asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is prepared to introduce urgent measures to rationalise the meat processing industry in view of the statements of spokesmen for the industry that current annual slaughterings are about 600,000 animals, current plant capacity is about 1,250,000 per annum and projected capacity arising from expansion and modernisation is 1,650,000 per annum.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meat Processing Industry.
29.
The modernisation of premises and equipment by firms already in the meat export industry has been the main factor in the increase of the capacity of the industry in recent years. In considering the capacity of the industry, however, account must, of course, be taken of seasonal variations in supplies of animals for slaughter.
The meat industry is on a private enterprise basis and I am not convinced that it would be in the interest of efficiency in the industry itself or in the interests of livestock producers to curtail the enterprise of persons wishing to participate in it or develop it. However, any such persons would have to take into account the very high standards of premises and equipment which my Department require in order to ensure compliance with the increasingly stringent conditions of the international meat trade, and they would accordingly have to be prepared to commit themselves to heavy expenditure to engage in what is a very competitive trade. The position in regard to the existing capacity of the industry and the high standards of premises, etc. required is, of course, made clear to any persons who are proposing to establish a new meat factory.