Any reduction in ferry capacity in terms of live animal exports from Ireland to mainland Europe will be highly damaging to Irish agriculture, Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher has warned.

This comes as Stena Line announced it is withdrawing its three-day Rosslare to Cherbourg service from September 2025.

“This is a major blow to the dairy sector in Ireland, which relies heavily on live animal exports to maintain stability in the market," Kelleher said.

While enhanced AI breeding can reduce the number of calves needing to be exported, there will always be a requirement to access the markets on mainland Europe, he said.

“Stena Line have said they will work with people affected - I think that unless another operator enters the market, it will be next to impossible to maintain the same level of exports.

“What this will mean is twofold: more animals remaining on the island and thereby increasing Ireland’s emissions and, secondly, potential animal welfare issues as Irish farms are not designed to house this level of young animals," he said.

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon, he said, must be prepared to intervene if the market fails to respond appropriately as "too many livelihoods are at stake".