asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a Press report of the 22nd April indicating that second-grade meat is being supplied to a local authority institution in County Longford;and, if so, if he will make a statement in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Longford Institution—Press Report.
My attention has been drawn to a Press report of the 20th April, 1953, which indicated that different prices were quoted for the supply of meat to district institutions in Longford.
It is a duty of the staff of each institution to ensure that the meat supplied is satisfactory. In particular, medical officers of such institutions must inspect all provisions, including meat, supplied to the institutions as often as is necessary but at least once a week and any meat regarded as unsatisfactory is rejected. I have no reason to believe that these arrangements, which are of general application, will prove inadequate in Longford.
Is the Minister aware that the person who sup plied the meat to the Longford County Council said:—
"They are getting hocks of beef, a very bony part of the animal which we would not ordinarily sell to our other customers. Occasionally, we would sell some hock cuts to poor people at 1/6 or so for a big pile of it; otherwise it would just go to waste."
In view of that condemnation of the meat by the actual supplier to the county home, would the Minister not take steps to ensure that better quality meat be supplied in future?
It is a matter for the medical officer to report first.