Vol. 444 No. 3
46 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to reports of smuggling of cattle from Northern Ireland to the Republic; if his Department has received a copy of a video purporting to show cattle being smuggled; the steps, if any, that are being taken to eliminate any such smuggling, especially in view of the need to preserve our BSE free status; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am aware of the reports referred to by the Deputy.
Under EU Commission Decision 89/469/EEC the onus is on the UK not to allow animals to be exported to other member states. However, my Department is taking every possible step to prevent the smuggling of cattle contrary to this decision.
There is very good co-operation with the authorities in Northern Ireland and liaison is also maintained with the customs authorities and Garda.
There is a through system of checking cattle at meat slaughtering plants and at points of export. Eartags and identity cards are carefully scrutinised by Department personnel and suspect consignments are seized.
There is no evidence of significant illegal movement of cattle from Northern Ireland. We have not seen the video concerned but we understand that it does not provide such evidence.
