Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 December 2020
475. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role his Department’s veterinary staff have played in meat processing plants generally and specifically with regard to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42659/20]
View answerMy Department’s statutory responsibility in the context of meat plants is to ensure that the DAFM approved plants operate in compliance with the EU's food hygiene legislation, animal health and animal welfare standards.
Within my Department, approximately 250 Veterinary and Technical staff are routinely involved in supervising, regulating and controlling the food safety, animal health and animal welfare standards at 49 slaughter plants (beef, sheep, pig and poultry) and a large number of meat processing plants throughout the country. Department staff resources are supplemented by approximately 700 Temporary Veterinary Inspectors, who are contracted by the Department to deliver ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection of animals and poultry in meat plants. This work is carried out in meat plants in relation to food hygiene, animal health and animal welfare, and has continued during the Covid-19 period.
In addition to this work, Department staff in meat plants have assisted and supported the HSE and the Food Business operators at local level as required in relation to dealing with any Covid-19 outbreaks that have occurred in meat plants and in assisting with the logistics of organising and implementing Covid-19 testing in meat plants.
Department staff have also supported and assisted the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) by carrying out Covid-19 related inspections in food plants.
As of 27th November, DAFM had completed 575 inspections on behalf of the HSA, including unannounced inspections, in DAFM-approved food premises, and these inspections are ongoing. The Department is also supporting the HSE and the Health and Safety Authority in monitoring the effective implementation of all relevant guidance in DAFM-approved food plants.
