asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that there is no irregular importation of meat, especially from South America.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Importation of Meat.
10.
The Deputy will recollect that I replied on 7th February, 1974—(Volume 270, No. 2, column 362)—to a similar question raised by him in regard to an irregular importation that had taken place. I have no information to indicate that any further such importation has since occurred.
In view of the fact that a veterinary strike is to take place next week and that there will be no slaughtering in the meat factories, will the Minister ensure that this time there will be no illegal importation due to these unusual circumstances which the Department of Finance or the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will not correct?
I am not too certain what the Deputy is inferring.
I am talking about the veterinary union's strike which will begin next week.
The Deputy is not in order in bringing in this new element.
I want to explain the matter.
That is not in order.
The Minister is bringing in civil servants to do the job of trained professional people. This is an extremely important matter. There are two meat factories in my area that will be blacked next Monday.
The Deputy is carrying on in a very irregular way at Question Time.
On whose side is the Deputy?
I am on the side of the vets and the workers in regard to the dictatorial attitude of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in bringing in civil servants to do the qualified work of vets.
This does not arise at the present time.
It does.
The Deputy is being unruly. This does not arise at the present time. Question No. 11.
All Deputy Davern wanted to do was to create mischief. He is being deliberately and maliciously mischievous.
The Minister is deliberately ignoring the facts.
(Interruptions.)
There is no need for such disorder. Question No. 11.
If there were not mischief makers like Deputy Davern around these difficulties would not arise.
The Minister is bringing in civil servants to do the job of trained professional people.
The Deputy will have to find another opportunity of raising that matter. This is a distinctly separate matter and the Deputy seeks to break the regulations of the House by interjecting now. Question No. 11.