Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 4

Written Answers - Meat Plant Regulators.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

117 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his attention has been drawn to the operation of intakes at abattoirs and meat plants where they stock pigs, sheep and cattle and where animal deliveries are made at any hour of the day or night without veterinary supervision; if he will put in place procedures to ensure no animal is received without correct delivery documentation; if he will ensure that layerage or intakes should operate only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on the working day and that all animal deliveries should be under strict veterinary inspection; his views on whether this is the cause of concern as it is as much a welfare issue as animals are being illegally transported in the dead of night for delivery-intake; and if he will ensure no animals are delivered to abbatoirs on Saturdays or Sundays. [11077/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

I am aware that livestock can be delivered to meat plants at times when Department officers are not in attendance, during night hours. Slaughter plants are legally required to ensure that the animals which they accept at their plants are identified in such a manner that allows the veterinary inspector at the meat plant, who undertakes the ante mortem inspection to determine their origin. This legal requirement applies irrespective of the time of delivery of the livestock.

The delivery of animals to plants outside normal hours reflects the tight commercial and shipping deadlines which operate within the sector. This is particularly relevant to the sheep sector where 75% of exports are to France and where the length of time between slaughter, shipment and delivery must be kept to a minimum. Official attendance by Department inspection officers is required before slaughter commences to allow for examination of the required documentation and for ante and post mortem examination.

Under the existing FMD permit requirements, all livestock must be accompanied by permit documentation at time of arrival at the slaughter plant. As regards animal welfare, there are legal obligations on slaughter plants to ensure animals are handled and managed in an acceptable manner while they are being held prior to slaughter. These requirements relate to supervision, feeding and watering of the animals in question.