Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-12-16-Speech-4-014"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2004-12-16"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Transport of animals2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20041216.5.4-014"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2004-12-16-Speech-4-0152
lpv:speaker	lp:Marian Harkin2
lpv:spoken text	". Mr President, I agree with the Commissioner's statement. This is a very important issue. I also agree that the EU has played an important role in regard to the way that animals are fed, transported and slaughtered. As the Commissioner stated, the EU has ensured many improvements in animal welfare during transportation. Some of them have been mentioned already: proposals for satellite tracking systems, ventilation and temperature monitoring, stricter conditions for driver training and a greater number of official inspections in different countries. Progress has been made. I also want to nail my colours to the mast because I am an MEP who represents a constituency that is both rural and urban. Agriculture continues to play a very important economic role in the north and west of Ireland. Indeed, the agriculture business has for many years been well supported by the EU. Live animal exports are a hugely important, legitimate business for Ireland. We export 90% of our animals and about 10% of those, or 200 000 live cattle, are exported every year to markets in France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. This trade is worth over EUR 150 million annually. Therefore, a vibrant export trade is essential for Irish agriculture and for the entire livestock sector. I believe we must have access to the single market. There is an important market for Irish weanlings in Europe and I believe this market should not be hindered. Surely, free access to the market is one of the cornerstones of EU policy. We also need to balance animal welfare with market access and support for agriculture, not just in Ireland, but also in the EU as a whole. Again, I agree with the Commissioner. We need enforcement and no one has a problem with that – consumers or farmers, it is in all our interests. Another issue regarding live export is that the trade provides competition in Ireland. This is another cornerstone of EU policy. I believe we have made progress; there is probably further to go, but the Commission is doing useful work."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	member; REGI (2004-07-21--2007-01-14)3 substitute; EMPL (2004-09-03--2007-01-14)3 unknown; - (2004-07-20--2009-07-13)3 member; Delegation for relations with Canada (2004-09-15--2007-03-13)3 member_of_the_bureau; ALDE (2004-07-20--2009-07-13)3 substitute; Delegation for relations with the United States (2004-09-15--2007-03-13)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Harkin (ALDE ),"1 "on behalf of the Group"1

Named graphs describing this resource:

The resource appears as object in 2 triples

Context graph