Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 4

Written Answers - Cattle Smuggling.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

79 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason officials from his Department are not present to check animals as they are being unloaded from trucks at all plants, in view of allegations of cattle being smuggled from Northern Ireland and presented at meat plants in the Republic of Ireland under falsified documents or markings. [6126/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

All bovine animals presented for slaughter at EU approved plants are subject to identification checks including individual tag inspection and identity card checks.