(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture with reference to Parliamentary Question No. 74 of 12 November last, if he will explain the delays in notifying the two firms involved regarding said irregularities.
Written Answers. - Intervention Weight Irregularities.
161.
The firms concerned were notified as soon as possible after prima facie evidence of possible irregularities became available.
162.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture the exact date on which an irregularity was noticed on the scale used by an agricultural co-operative society based in Waterford which led to the notification of an irregularity to that society's chief executive on 1 December 1983.
The irregularity was not related to the operation of the scales.
163.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the number of irregularities and frauds in the meat processing industry, it would be advisable to protect farmers and suppliers by introducing an emergency Bill changing the conditions of trading so that meat supplied to meat plants remains the property of the farmer supplier until it is paid for.
Any irregularities in the meat industry with which my Department has been concerned have related primarily to financial transactions between the Department and the industry. So far as conditions of buying and selling cattle are concerned these are essentially matters for negotiation between the parties concerned and as such I am not convinced that it would be appropriate to introduce new legislative controls.