Vol. 396 No. 2
100 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food, in respect of legislation passed under the aegis of his Department, which required (a) a ministerial order or (b) an order of the Oireachtas to implement (1) the entire Act or (2) any section of the Act, he will list any Act or section of an Act which has not yet been implemented; and the reason for any such non-implementation.
In the case of legislation as described by the Deputy and for which I have responsibility the position is as follows:
(a) Diseases of Animals Act, 1966 — It has not yet been found necessary to commence sections 16, 18, 21, 31, 34, 42, 44, 45, 55 and 57 of the Act.
(b) Abattoirs Act, 1988 — The following parts of the Abattoirs Act, 1988 have not been commenced: Part I — All sections in so far as they apply to knackeries; section 3 (2) in so far as it applies to abattoirs. Part II — All sections. Part IV — Sections 36 to 43 inclusive. Part V — All sections. Part VII — All sections in so far as they apply to knackeries. Owning to the complexities of the Act it is necessary to introduce the provisions of the Act on a phased basis.
Regulations relating to veterinary examination and the health mark on meat for human consumption are being finalised and will when introduced enable all sections of the Abattoirs Act, 1988, apart from those relating to knackeries, to be implemented. Commencement of those provisions of the Act which relate to knackeries is being deferred pending the outcome of current EC discussions in relation to harmonised rules for the disposal of carcases, slaughter offals and other animal waste.
