asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the investigation by his Department into allegations of irregularities in the meat industry has yet been completed; if he intends to publish the report; the action his Department intends to take against those involved in irregularities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Meat Industry.
51.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 23 and 51 together.
In replying to a number of parliamentary questions on 26 April 1989 I gave details of the sampling of beef held under the 1988 Aids to Private Storage (APS) scheme being undertaken by my Department in co-operation with Customs. The Department carried out an examination of the documentary details of the 2,468 contracts involved. Following examination of the APS documentation selected contracts from the seven largest participants in the scheme, which accounted for 95 per cent of the tonnage under APS contract and almost 94 per cent of the deboned beef, were targeted for investigation to confirm that the EC rules for APS aid and export refund subsidies were observed. The preliminary findings of the examination programme indicated that four of the firms involved in the sampling had not complied with all the terms of the relevant regulations in respect of some of their production. Subsequently further sampling was undertaken to determine whether the infringements were isolated or existed on a wider scale. The sampling has now been completed.
The Department are in consultation with the European Commission, which has been kept informed of the progress of the investigation, to arrange for discussions about the outcome of the sampling operation and to consider the level of penalties that should be applied in each case. Pending final consideration of the results in consultation with the Commission services it is not possible to say precisely what level of penalties will apply.
In so far as the holding of funds or guarantees is concerned, the Department hold adequate guarantees to cover all the transactions under investigation. The precise figure for the guarantees being held is, of course, a confidential matter between the Department and the firms concerned.
I did not hear the Minister correctly. Did he say that the investigation has been completed?
Yes.
Would the Minister state whether the report will be published in full and brought before the Dáil for debate? I know he mentioned that a number of firms are involved in fraud. Could he state which firms? Could he further state what steps are being taken to prevent such abuses being repeated and if Eirfreeze Limited, the company at the East Wall in Dublin, were included in the investigation?
The Deputy knows that it is not the practice to mention individual companies.
The reference to a particular company was quite unnecessary, and not in order in this House.
Let me assure the Deputy that there is no question, of course, of publishing a report in the form he has suggested. This is not a matter for report but a matter for ongoing investigation and examination in the Department who are the intervention agency in this country. It is very clear that this has been done fully in consultation with the Commission services and has been ongoing and will continue in the future. This was a very intensive investigation and I want to assure the House that at all times consultations have been in accordance with the highest standards whether at home or at Commission services. The penalties to be finally imposed will be agreed in consultation with the Commission. I cannot suggest that there will be brought before the House a report on this or on any further incidence of naming names. That is not the way it is done.
Would the Minister agree that it is rather extraordinary at this stage if, as a result of his investigations he has found that there is fraud, he cannot say what penalties he or his Department propose to impose? Would he not agree that it is vitally important to stamp out fraud and that the way to do it is to publish in full the results of the investigations and the names of the companies who have been investigated?
I hope the Deputy will appreciate and that the public will be reassured by the knowledge that we examined the 2,468 contracts and carried out detailed samples. We have been in constant consultation with the Commission and everything is being done according to the strictest possible standards. I will ensure, as I have ensured over the past two years, that this will remain the case. I cannot, of course, indicate what the level of penalty will be until detailed consultations with the Commission have terminated and I cannot say when that will happen. However, it will enable both the Commission and my own Department to go into the matter in the greatest detail.
I now call Question No. 52.
When will the report be published?
I have called Question No. 52.