Vol. 407 No. 3
25 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of appeals which have been made for reclassification of animals at meat plants between 1 September 1990 and 31 December 1990; the number of appeals which were successful; and the number of farmers who were paid as a result of the successful appeals.
The beef carcase classification scheme is the only classification scheme operated by my Department at meat plants. Specific figures for the period in question are not readily available. However, I can inform the Deputy that in 1990 the total number of appeals for reclassification under the beef carcase classification scheme involved 21,194 bovine animals of which appeals in respect of some 5,097 or 24 per cent were successful. In all successful cases my Department took all necessary steps to ensure that the farmer was given the revised classification. The question of payment is, of course, a matter solely for negotiation between the individual producers and the factory.
