Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Mar 1988

Vol. 379 No. 2

Abattoirs Bill, 1987 [ Seanad ]: Report and Final Stage.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food (Mr. J. Walsh)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 33, line 33, to delete "two years" and substitute "one year".

During the debate on the Committee Stage I mentioned I would review the period allowed for the institution of summary proceedings to ensure that the concerns expressed by Deputies O'Keeffe, Durkan and McCoy would not be realised. I express my gratitude to the Deputies concerned for bringing this matter to my attention and I am glad to accede to their request to reduce the time from two years to one year. I hope this will improve the Bill and meet the wishes of those Deputies.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

Obviously we have no objection to this amendment. I acknowledge the attitude of the Minister in accepting the proposal I made. I had very serious concerns that with the two-year period for prosecutions the time lapse would affect the giving of a clear account to the court because people would have an unclear memory of events. I suggested this period should be shortened to 12 months and I am glad the Minister has accepted this recommendation.

Mr. McCoy

In tabling our amendment we sought to have this period of two years proposed by the Minister reduced to six months. However, I accept the Minister's good faith in meeting us half way. I accept this amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

Question, "That the Bill, as amended, be received for final consideration" put and agreed to.

Agreed to take remaining Stage today.

Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

Mr. J. Walsh

I would like to pay tribute to the Members opposite for the constructive and very helpful way in which they have dealt with this Bill. I have no doubt that the amendments which they put down and the suggestions which they made and to which I was able to accede following consultation with the parliamentary draftsman have improved the Bill and I would like to thank the Members opposite.

Mr. Durkan

I would like to record our appreciation of the fact that the Minister of State readily accepted the constructive amendments which we tabled. That was fundamental to the passage of the Bill and we appreciate it.

Mr. McCoy

I would also like to record the appreciation of the Progressive Democrats of the way in which the Minister of State tried to meet our amendments, for introducing this Bill into the House and for the speedy way it passed all Stages. There is no doubt that there was a great need for this Bill and I congratulate the Minister of State on seeing this need and drafting the Bill so quickly. In some ways it is a simple Bill but in other ways it is complicated. I am sure this Bill will prove to be of tremendous benefit to all right thinking people in the meat trade.

The provisions and penalties contained in the Bill have been inserted to protect those who wish to carry out their business properly. Those who wish to do so have nothing to fear from this Bill. In fact, it should lead to an upgrading of their operations. I believe that the cowboy operators who have not been observing normal practices in regard to hygiene, or who have been stepping outside the law in terms of the types of meats they have been offering, have a lot to fear from this Bill. I ask the Minister of State to make sure that the penalties and provisions which are embodied in the Bill will be rigorously pursued against those who break the law. It will be in the interests of the consumer and this country to do so.

Question put and agreed to.