Pandoro hit by livestock row
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• P&O ferry firm Pandoro was at the centre of another livestock row last week as animal rights group Compassion in World Farming protested over the company's decision to resume the carriage of livestock from Ireland to the Continent.
CIWF held a demonstration outside Pandoro's offices because it claims the company plans trial shipments with a view to carrying animals for slaughter and further fattening. This follows the resumption of the live cattle trade to all EU destinations from Ireland about three weeks ago.
"Animals are not freight," says CIWF Irish director Mary Anne Bartlett. "There is no reason for Pandoro to change its policy of only carrying breeding animals. We are surprised the company is prepared to risk P&O's passenger traffic by again becoming involved in a trade which is outdated, inhumane and unpopular."
A meeting has been arranged between CIWF and Pandoro to discuss the situation at the end of April; nobody from Pandoro was available for comment.
Pandoro's parent, P&O, says that its basic policy on livestock has not changed, but a spokesman admits that recent changes in Irish and EU legislation have led to tougher requirements for animal exporters which P&O needs to review. "We cannot pretend there have been no developments," says the spokesman.