asked the Minister for Agriculture if he received complaints from the Irish Farmers' Association regarding the standards in operation at certain pig slaughtering premises and if so, the date of receipt and the action taken.
48.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pig Slaughterhouses.
47.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will make a statement on the report that approximately 6,000 pigs are slaughtered each week in unlicensed slaughtering premises without veterinary supervision and if he has satisfied himself with the situation in this regard.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together.
I have not received specific complaints from the Irish Farmers' Association about standards at certain pig slaughtering premises, but in the context of representations about levies on pig slaughterings the association referred to different standards at home market and export market premises.
Only export slaughterhouses are the direct responsibility of my Department. Controls on other slaughterhouses are primarily the responsibility of the local authorities for the areas in which the premises are located and this premises are required to be licensed by the local authority. Information about slaughterings of pigs at unlicensed premises should be brought to the attention of the local authority concerned.
Is the Minister satisfied with the position in which, in the case of the slaughterhouses which are the responsibility of the local authorities, they are inspected very infrequently and then only by veterinary surgeons for whom it is a part-time responsibility in addition to other work for which they are paid more remuneratively?
There are over 200 local authority veterinary inspectors. I agree that many of them are part-time——
Practically all of them.
Yes, but I assume they are doing the job.
Would the Minister take action if he were provided with evidence that there are a number of premises which are not up to standard, as I understood he had been provided with evidence by the IFA?
I would be delighted to hear of any such case.
Does the Minister not agree that it is his responsibility to ensure that slaughterhouse arrangements are satisfactory?
That aspect is the responsibility of the local authorities and it should be reported to them.
I heard the reply. Should it not be the responsibility of the Minister?
Deputy Bruton suggested that somebody had evidence. I would be delighted to see that.
The IFA have.
They have not submitted it to me.
I will ensure the Minister gets it.
Thank you.
Question No. 49 postponed.
Questions Nos. 50 to 52 are for written reply: