The Manx National Farmers’ Union has criticised the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture over its handling of efforts to import breeding livestock from Northern Ireland.
It claims farmers were left facing higher costs, increased biosecurity risks and potential animal welfare concerns.
The union said the livestock sector has faced difficulties importing breeding stock for several years due to restrictions linked to Bluetongue disease.
Earlier this year, it worked with the island’s Chief Veterinary Officer to establish a route from Northern Ireland, which at the time was free from Bluetongue restrictions, allowing breeding animals to be imported under strict biosecurity measures.
Little Support
However, disruption to Isle of Man Steam Packet services during the summer created further problems.
The MNFU said that when the Ben My Chree was reassigned to the Heysham and Liverpool routes, the Manannan took over Northern Ireland sailings.
While capable of carrying freight, the vessel does not transport livestock, leaving a number of farmers unable to bring breeding stock to the island.
The union said discussions with the Steam Packet identified the freight vessel Arrow as a potential solution for a direct Larne to Isle of Man sailing.
However, it said chartering the vessel would have cost around £20,000, which the company expected to recover in full.
According to the MNFU, the Steam Packet also made clear it was under no obligation to provide support to the industry despite the unforeseen changes to scheduled services.
Rejected Request
The matter was subsequently discussed with DEFA over a series of meetings. The union said two options were considered: a direct sailing from Northern Ireland or a longer route through Scotland and England before reaching the Island.
According to the MNFU, DEFA ultimately presented the latter as the only available option. The organisation argued that route would have increased transport times, required animals to travel through Bluetongue restriction zones and added costs for affected farmers through additional freight and transport charges.
The MNFU said it urged the department to underwrite the cost of a direct sailing from Larne, which it described as both the safer and more practical option, but claimed the request was rejected.
In its statement, the union also questioned the department’s response to the issue, stating it was “unsure if the Department’s Chief Officer had actually contacted the then Minister for DEFA, Clare Barber, on the matter”, adding that requests for support were ultimately “rebuffed in writing”.
The union stressed it was not seeking reimbursement of farmers’ freight costs, but instead support to ensure a direct sailing could take place.
While acknowledging that the disruption to Steam Packet services was not DEFA’s fault, the MNFU said the department’s handling of the situation raised concerns about its support for the agricultural sector.
The organisation said the issue was eventually resolved following the involvement of then Chief Minister Alf Cannan, then Treasury Minister Chris Thomas and several newly-elected MHKs, resulting in an urgent proposal which enabled livestock to be transported directly from Northern Ireland to the Isle of Man.
The union said that without that intervention, farmers would have faced longer journeys, higher costs and greater biosecurity risks through no fault of their own.
