asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has received complaints from egg exporters operating in Mayo and other western counties as to the treatment meted out to them by inspectors of his Department in relation to the inspection of egg stores, examination and confiscation of eggs intended for export, and cancellation of bounties payments; and if he will state what steps, if any, are being taken to ascertain if such complaints are well founded, and if any steps are likely to be taken to remedy the grievances complained of.
Written Answers. - Inspection of Eggs.
No complaints have been received in my Department of the nature indicated in the Deputy's question. Inspectors appointed under the Agricultural Produce (Eggs) Acts, 1924 to 1930 have, as in previous years, carried out examinations of consignments of eggs in course of transit or at premises where eggs were sold or stored for sale. Where any package so examined was found seriously to contravene the provisions of the Acts or the regulations made thereunder, the package was forfeited and disposed of as required by Section 4 of the Act of 1924. Although the number of consignments examined during the present year was not greater than in previous years and the standard of examination remained the same as formerly, the percentage of forfeitures was higher than for several years past, indicating the need for greater care in the marketing of eggs on the part of all concerned in the trade.