Vol. 422 No. 5
11 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the action which has been taken against an employee of his Department who was convicted in a recent case at Navan District Court of possession of Clenbuterol and other illegal growth promoters; and whether any investigation has been carried out by his Department into the way in which this official came to be in possession of these substances.
This case is now being examined under the standard Civil Service disciplinary procedures. The officer concerned was convicted following his plea of guilty to various offences under the European Communities (Control of Veterinary Medicinal Products and Their Residues) Regulations 1988 to 1991. A prior detailed investigation into all aspects of the case had been carried out by my Department, Customs and the Garda Síochána.
The latter part of the Question tabled reads:
... whether any investigation has been carried out by his Department into the way in which this official came to be in possession of these substances.
Since that time the Minister himself was critical of the fine imposed by the court on the particular individual and in view of the recent remarks of the IFA Chairman in Waterford, that he was aware of farmers who were using angel dust to, if you like, bolster their cattle would he say whether this practice is widespread and what action is being taken to eliminate it? The main point is how this person came to be in possession of——
This question refers to a particular case. I am anxious that the Deputy should not expand on that just now.
The convictions against the person concerned were extremely serious. The fact that it was a civil servant whose duties involved disease eradication and control made the offences all the more reprehensible. The investigation carried out by the Department, the Cutoms and the Garda Síochána indicated that the source of the drugs concerned was the USA.
