Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 March 2017
298. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the way a hard Border between the North and South following Brexit could affect knackery services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11052/17]
View answerThere are 40 knackeries (Category 2 Intermediate plants) approved to operate under the supervision of my Department in accordance with the standards laid out in the EU and national Animal By-Product Regulations.
The potential impact on animal collection of a hard border between north and south after Brexit is likely to be limited as the knackeries are approved to operate as collectors of fallen animals in this jurisdiction only, although they may in some cases, subject to compliance with the conditions of our TSE (Fallen Animal Subsidy) Scheme and authorisation by the Northern Ireland authorities, transport the fallen animal material to the North for disposal by rendering.
The total numbers of fallen bovines collected by animal collectors in recent years are 264,138 in 2016, 237,779 in 2015 and 228,460 in 2014.
