433. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of live cattle export shipments by port of origin over the past five years. [39303/19]

Live exports are a critical part of the infrastructure of our livestock industry.  They play a significant role in stimulating price competition and provide an alternative market outlet for farmers.  My Department facilitates this trade, recognising its critical importance to the agri-sector, while ensuring that live animal exports meet the highest welfare standards.  I continue to prioritise efforts to gain access to new third country markets and, equally importantly, to deepen existing markets for live exports.

The number of shipments of live cattle exported on dedicated livestock vessels and the ports of departure of those shipments is provided in the following table.

In addition, Roll-On Roll-Off ferries operate regular weekly services from Dublin and Rosslare ports to continental Europe which frequently contain consignments of live cattle exports destined for the continent.