Courts / Cork / Report

Compromise in challenge to ban on live exports to North Africa

Date
2021-06-16

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Cork

County
Cork

Summary

In a High Court case, Curzon Livestock Limited, a Cork‑registered company that exports livestock to Libya and other North African countries, challenged a government ban on all live animal exports during July and August 2021. The company argued the ban had no legal basis, was irrational, unreasonable, unlawful and beyond the Minister's powers, and that it ignored the safeguards it normally applies. It sought orders to quash the ban and declarations of its illegality. The court had earlier required the application to be made on notice to the respondents. In March, the court heard that the Minister had issued a hot‑weather notification banning all live animal exports to North Africa for the two months, a ban also confirmed in other communications. The case was adjourned to October after the parties reached a confidential compromise, with the court noting the action had been settled on confidential terms. The company's legal team was David Holland SC of Cantillon solicitors.