Vol. 498 No. 5
6 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has satisfied himself that sheep imports from Great Britain do not endanger the health status of our national flock; if he has satisfied himself with the veterinary controls his Department has in place to identify the origin of all sheep imported; the number of sheep imported from Great Britain and Northern Ireland since 1 June 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27693/98}
The common organisation of the EU sheep market provides for free circulation in both live animals and meat. Under EU regulations, all sheep for export must undergo a health inspection within 48 hours prior to loading and must not show any signs of clinical disease before being certified. Advance notice must be transmitted to the authorities in the importing member state under the EU animal notification system, ANIMO.
All sheep presented for slaughter at EU approved plants supervised by my Department are subject to veterinary examination and are accepted for slaughter on the basis of freedom from clinical signs of disease.
As regards imports from Britain, the position is that sheep for slaughter, either directly or through Northern Ireland, must be accompanied by an animal health certificate signed by an official veterinary inspector and be assigned to a particular slaughterhouse. Under the ANIMO system of animal movement, 10,800 sheep were notified as imported from Great Britain from 1 June 1998 to the end of November 1998.
Since November 1992 a bilateral arrangement has existed between my Department and the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, DANI, in respect of sheep going to and from Northern Ireland. Under the arrangement sheep of Northern Ireland origin may move freely from here and vice versa. A recent importation of sheep from England has resulted in movement restrictions being imposed in a number of locations here. The matter is still under investigation.
Would the Minister care to comment on the fact that many people, particularly sheep producers, believe over 20,000 sheep and out of State lambs per week have been imported in recent months, at a time when the sheep trade has collapsed? It is a most unusual activity, particularly in this season. Will the Minister assure the public that the sheep entering our State from Great Britain — I am not talking about Northern Ireland — meet the strict veterinary controls laid down? Does he regard it as suspicious that many lambs find their way into meat factories in the dead of night? It is difficult to understand how the veterinary controls about which the Minister spoke can be put in place if animals are being brought in at night.
I agree with Deputy Connaughton. We have an adequate amount of high quality produce in Ireland, not only sheep and lamb but also beef, pigmeat and poultry. It is disappointing that a number of organisations feel it incumbent on them to import those products. There is an adequate supply and there is no need for this level of imports. However, as far as the Department of Agriculture and Food is concerned, the number which it has found is 10,800. Recently, Department staff at sheep slaughtering plants were asked to check any specific evidence of any trade above the level to which the Deputy referred but they have found none to date.
Department staff have also been reminded that the origin of animals for slaughter must be established so a watchful eye is being kept on the matter. There is freedom of movement under the controls I described. Ireland is a major exporter of many of those products — up to 85 per cent or 90 per cent. However, I repeat it is disappointing that a number of organisations feel it incumbent on them to import such a high volume of those products naturally produced in Ireland.
One would have to take it from the Minister's reply that he does not believe the low official figures as regards imports from Great Britain. I have no trouble with free trade. Is the Minister satisfied that his veterinary inspectors know the state of origin of all the out of state sheep and that they meet the veterinary criteria laid down? How will they know from where animals come if they are delivered to a factory in the middle of the night?
I accept the figure of 10,800 from 1 June 1998 to November 1998 produced to me by the Department. However, under the bilateral arrangements with the North of Ireland sheep going to and coming from there can move freely between both parts of the country. It would be impossible to ascertain the number coming from the North of Ireland which originated there. Those from outside the North of Ireland and from any EU member state must have certificates of origin and disease certification as well. Following a well advertised television programme on one plant here, I instructed officers of the Department of Agriculture and Food at various plants to be even more vigilant and to further tighten up, if that is deemed necessary.
