Vol. 370 No. 3
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that there is widespread concern about rumours of serious frauds which have taken place in the areas of livestock, dairy produce and meat exports; if he believes that officials of his Department are doing everything possible to prevent such frauds taking place.
87.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of cases of fraud or attempted fraud involving MCAs or export refunds which have been reported to his Department; and the number of prosecutions there have been.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together.
All claims for payment of export refunds and/or MCAs are examined in detail by my Department as part of normal procedures. Where any irregularity is detected or suspected the case is subjected to a special investigation in conjunction with the customs authorities and, where appropriate, the Garda.
In the current year three cases of suspected irregularities involving export refunds and/or MCAs have been reported to the EC Commission by my Department. Legal proceedings have not so far been taken in any of these cases.
