Vol. 545 No. 3
71 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of veterinary officials in his Department involved in the supervision of beef exports to ensure compliance with requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30263/01]
The number of veterinary inspectors in my Department involved in the supervision of beef exports are as follows: export plants – 46 veterinary inspectors; regional officers – six superintending veterinary inspectors; HQ officers – two superintending veterinary inspectors and one senior superintending veterinary inspector.
In addition to the permanent veterinary officers of my Department, in excess of 250 temporary veterinary inspectors, TVIs are deployed on a daily basis in beef slaughter plants to carry out duties in connection with the completion of veterinary ante and post-mortem inspection of all cattle slaughtered in meat plants under the supervision of the Department. The precise number of TVIs deployed will vary at different times of the year, depending on throughput levels in the plants.
