Vol. 551 No. 4
107 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the action he will now take in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow who has not been paid for animals compulsorily slaughtered by a company (details supplied) and who has been informed by the liquidators that he will merely rank as an unsecured creditor in the liquidation for the amount due to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10777/02]
108 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the action he will take in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow who has not been paid for animals compulsorily slaughtered by a company (details supplied) and who has been informed by the liquidators that he will merely rank as an unsecured creditor in the liquidation for the amount due to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10778/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together.
The procedure for disposing of reactor animals under the TB and brucellosis disease eradication schemes operates on the basis that meat factories tender on a weekly basis for the slaughter of these animals and my Department selects factories on the basis of the prices offered for different types of animals. At all times the ownership of the reactor animal continues to reside with the farmer and therefore the contract for the salvage value is a matter between the farmer and the meat factory involved. My Department's responsibility is to ensure the secure removal of the animal to slaughter and to pay the appropriate compensation. If a factory goes out of business, as happened in the case in question, the recovery of any moneys due to losses incurred by farmers is a matter for resolution between themselves and the company's liquidators.
