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Independent TD Verona Murphy has welcomed the Government's support for shipping this week, but said that every link in the chain is vulnerable.
"The food supply chain is under increasing pressure as the COVID-19 crisis is paralysing Europe's distribution system," the former president of the Irish Road Hauliers Association said.
Murphy outlined the stark reality facing hauliers and meat exporters.
Lambs
"One lorry heading to Rungis (Paris) in the last week had 150 lambs on two pallets. The normal load is 1,100 lambs. Another lorry going to Italy only had 3t of beef in the trailer.
"With hotels and restaurants closed, the supermarkets are the only remaining outlet, but premium Irish beef cuts at premium prices aren't selling with so many people jobless.
"In addition, there is no backload, nothing to transport back to Ireland or the UK. A haulier would normally charge around €3,500 for a run to Italy, but would need €7,000 now. This doubles transport costs, which is not viable, but not going at all is not viable for Ireland either."
Calf exports
Murphy added that live calf exports also need the shipping trade to be supported.
"We need all stakeholders to be sitting around a table exploring every option. Would intervention work? We have to come up with some solution."
Murphy also called for a huge increase in COVID-19 testing to help determine when we can begin to rebuild supply lines.
"We need to be doing 15,000 tests a day, we're currently at 10% of that. We also need real-time results within 24 hours. We currently have a lag time of up to two weeks for results.
"Farmers understand that the TB testing regime only works because all animals are tested. This won't be very different, as most people who contract COVID-19 will only have mild symptoms and may not even know they have had it."
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