Before Question Time I was responding to the various points raised by a number of Members. Deputy Flood was concerned about the collection of fees by local authorities and the possible problems that could arise for local authorities in the collection of outstanding slaughtering inspection fees.
I hope it will prove to be the exception rather than the rule for a local authority to have to go to court to seek recovery of fees. In the first instance, section 45 makes it an offence not to pay fees and the penalties for breaches of that provision are substantial enough to ensure that nobody reneges. Secondly, the local authority will have an immediate remedy at hand in that the offender's meat may not be inspected and stamped fit for human consumption. The question of revoking the abattoir licence would also come into play should a proprietor refuse to remit the slaughtering inspection fees.
A number of Deputies, particularly Deputies O'Keeffe, McCoy, Stagg and Durkan, raised the health mark arrangements for meat. Carcases will be stamped on each hind and forequarter. In addition, bovines will be stamped on the strip-lion on the back. Each individual piece of meat will not be stamped and, furthermore, it is not necessary. Any person checking up on the matter need only go to the butcher's cold room and check the carcases or quarters hanging there to establish that adequate marking has taken place. There will be no problem about giving a distinctive number to each abattoir and which number, for tracing purposes, will be reflected in the stamp. Regulations under section 40 will cover the stamping arrangements including the certification of meat being consigned in boxes or packages from abattoirs.
Deputy McCoy adverted to the levies payable under the Bovine Diseases (Levies) Act, 1979. Levies under that Act have been paid on all bovine slaughterings at both export plants and at domestic abattoirs since their introduction in 1979. Section 51 of the Bill merely contains technical amendments to the Bovine Diseases (Levies) Act consequent on the Bill and does not, as would appear to have been suggested by Deputy McCoy, impose any new liability for payment of the levy.
Deputy Sherlock questioned the exclusion of rabbits and deer from the animals to be covered by the Bill. Rabbits are excluded from the definition of "animal" as in recent years they have not been a factor in the home trade. Those concerns which are engaged in rabbit production-slaughtering are doing so for export purposes. As such, they are already covered under the Agricultural and Fishery Products (Regulation of Export) Act, 1947, and the Export of Poultry and Rabbits Order, 1950.
The position in relation to deer is that currently there are no regulations on either the export or home side. A further factor is the involvement of the Forest and Wildlife Service through the Wildlife Dealing Regulations, 1977, and the issue of licences thereunder. The inclusion of deer in the definition of "animal" under the Bill would, in effect, mean that all deer slaughtering premises, usually referred to as larders, would come under the control of local authorities. This would have implications for export inspection and certification as it is the Department's veterinary inspectors who currently supervise and certify, on an ad hoc basis, venison for export, mainly to Germany. Currently, the whole question of deer farming is being examined and, pending the result of such examination, it is considered best to omit deer from the definition of “animal”.
Notwithstanding the exclusion of rabbits and deer from the definition of "animal" under the Bill, there is provision in section 39 (3) for establishing their fitness for human consumption when they are slaughtered or found hanging in a local abattoir. This would arise occasionally. Further, should volume slaughterings of rabbits and deer begin to take place at local abattoirs, I can exercise the power under section 2 (3) (a) and make the species fully subject to the Bill's provisions.
I am aware that deer farming is becoming popular as is the consumption of venison. It is the policy of the Government to promote deer farming as an alternative enterprise and I will have no hesitation in exercising the powers under the Bill to include deer should the industry want it.
Deputy Deenihan raised the question of hormones. I accept his comments on hormones, residues and food additives generally. We have banned hormones, in common with our EC partners, and we are operating a campaign to detect any illegal use of them. In the past year there were 20 successful prosecutions for the illegal use of hormones. I agree with the comments of Deputy Boylan in regard to the standard of hygiene. I accept that the majority in the trade take great pride in their work and take care to ensure that the meat is hygienically prepared. However, loose and lax enforcement in certain areas provides an ideal breeding ground for unscrupulous operators. The purpose of the Bill is to tighten up the hygiene regulations nationwide. Deputy Briscoe was concerned about small abattoirs trying to cater for a large volume of business. Section 2 provides that an abattoir licence may contain a condition limiting the class or the number of animals that may be slaughtered in an abattoir. A regulation under section 20 will ensure that no congested conditions obtain in any abattoir. Deputy Briscoe was concerned about people who had a licence revoked or who transgressed the regulations being given a new licence. I share his concern but I would not be prepared to go as far as he has suggested. However, I must point out that the Bill provides that an applicant for a licence must be a fit and suitable person to hold such a licence. Clearly, any previous transgressions would be a factor in the renewal of a licence. I do not think we will be moving towards becoming a nation of vegetarians just yet but we will ensure that those in the meat and food business prepare and present their produce in the best possible way.
Deputy Briscoe suggested that we should refuse a licence to those who transgress the law when transporting meat. Deputy Durkan was also concerned about this matter. The Department of Health are updating their provisions under the food hygiene regulations in relation to the transport of meat. The aim of the Department of Agriculture and Food is to ensure that not alone is meat properly prepared under the regulations but that it is transported and presented in a proper manner. We want the whole operation from slaughtering to the consumer carried out with hygienic utensils and by proper modes of transport. When the Bill has been passed the Departments of Health and Agriculture and Food will introduce regulations to cover the transport of meat and meat products.
Deputy Durkan referred to the transport of offal in open trucks. I experienced a similar offensive odour from open trucks transporting offal. I intend to introduce regulations to control that practice. Regulations made under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966, will deal adequately with that matter and we will endeavour to ensure that that practice is discontinued. Deputy Durkan also asked about the extension of a licence beyond two months on the death of a licence holder. I should like to tell him that section 13 which deals with this matter was amended in the Seanad following a long debate. I introduced an amendment, which was deemed satisfactory by the trade to cover this issue, which was accepted by the Seanad.
Deputy Durkan queried the position in relation to the processing of meat. The cutting up and packaging of meat within abattoirs will be dealt with in regulations to be made under section 20 of this Bill. Outside of abattoirs the provisions of the food hygiene regulations apply and will continue to apply in these operations.
The question of illegal slaughterings and slaughterings of worn out or debilitated animals was raised by Deputy Durkan. The control measures in this Bill will put an end to illegal slaughterings and the sale of meat of dubious quality. Furthermore, the ante-mortem inspection of animals before they are slaughtered will ensure that no worn out, debilitated or emaciated animals will be passed as fit for slaughter. Thus consumers will be assured of meat of the highest possible standards, and I am sure we will be able to improve the quality of meat for Deputy Deenihan's greyhounds in north Kerry as well.
