Vol. 400 No. 3
9 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress which has been made with other EC countries in order to ensure a continuous market for meat and bone meal which is produced here having regard to the serious consequences this could have on our beef and sheep industries, if agreement is not reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
19 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the implications, if any, for the Irish beef industry of the new measures agreed by EC Ministers of Agriculture on 7 June, 1990, arising from concern about the incidence of BSE in the British beef herd.
24 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he is concerned about the future of the rendering industry in Ireland; if he acknowledges that there are over 2,000 jobs at risk; and if he has any plans to help the industry.
43 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of cases of BSE reported to date this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
63 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline his attitude to the desirability of developing a brand image for Irish beef and beef products, especially in view of the marketing difficulties for beef created by the spread of BSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 19, 24, 43 and 63 together.
On 7 June 1990 the Council of Ministers of Agriculture at an emergency meeting convened by me agreed on a series of control measures in relation to beef exported from the UK to other member states. Prior to the meeting, I have specifically arranged with the Commission that the Scientific Veterinary Committee would examine the up-to-date position. The committee's report was accordingly available to Council and confirmed at the level of highest scientific knowledge that meat derived from bovine animals in countries in which BSE occurs is not considered to be a danger to public health. The measures, which were adopted by Council, replaced unilateral national restrictions. They do not apply to Irish beef. However, the comfidence engendered by a common Community approach will be of benefit to the Irish beef industry. The outcome of the meeting was welcomed by all member states who expressed their appreciation to the Presidency of the prompt action taken.
The question of developing a brand name for Irish beef and beef products is primarily one for the meat export trade in consultation with CBF who have responsibility for beef, sheepmeat and pigmeat promotion under the CBF Acts. The introduction of a single brand name would be a complex matter involving detailed consultation with the trade observance of the strict EC regulations on advertising.
I am aware of the serious problem facing the rendering industry in Ireland as a result of the emergence of BSE, four cases of which have been confirmed this year. Marketing difficulties for meat and bonemeal have emerged throughout the Community and I am endeavouring to have these resolved. The important role which the industry plays in the structure of the meat sector is fully recognised at EC level and is one of the factors that will be taken into account in the ongoing research by the Community into the BSE issue and the role of meat and bonemeal. Close liasion is being maintained with the manufacturers on relevant developments.
Deputy Farrelly rose.
There are Deputies present who have Questions tabled in relation to this matter. I will give them priority, should they offer.
Questions No. 9 is in the name of a member of my party.
I am aware of that. I should like to repeat that the Chair will call Deputies in the order in which their questions appear on the Order Paper and who are present in the House. I am calling Deputy Sherlock whose question is No. 19.
Will the Minister outline the implications, if any, for the Irish beef industry of the measures introduced by EC Ministers of Agriculture?
There are no implications whatever in respect of Irish beef and the certification required will not apply to Ireland.
Is the Minister aware that those who collect carcasses throughout the country are threatening to withdraw this service? Is the Minister aware of the implications of such a move?
I am and it is for that reason that I mentioned at home, and in consultation with my European colleagues, that I am anxious to ensure that we have a properly organised collection system for offals which go to our rendering industry. Apart from the importance of that for the industry it is the best way to control the use of offals and to guarantee that we know what is going into feed. I am satisfied that the consultations with the industry will result in protection of their interests and that of human and animal health.
The Minister referred to the difficulties for meat and bonemeal and I should like to ask him if he is aware of a decision by the renderers, arising out of the fact that France is no longer prepared to purchase meat and bonemeal produced in Ireland. Is the Minister aware of that? Is the Minister aware that the renderers are considering withdrawing from the business because they can no longer sell the product? Will the Minister take immediate action to prevent the closure of those plants threatened for 1 July?
There is no justification whatever for any interests in any country imposing a ban on meat and bonemeal from Ireland. Our produce is absolutely disease free. Of course, that does not prevent elements in member states using, for their own purposes, a scare to attempt to justify their actions. I should like to assure the Deputy, and the industry, that I will vigorously ensure that no such ban is imposed, particularly when there is no justification for it.
The Minister has said that our herd has a disease-free status and that he does not consider there to be any danger to human beings from the consumption of beef arising from the mad cow disease. Will he accept that the position is not as he said in making the last point and that it cannot be proved at this time that there is a danger from beef or that it is safe to eat it? Will the Minister accept that that is the scientific position now? Arising from that will the Minister agree that it would be highly appropriate from the point of view of consumers, if the source of the beef was highlighted on the label, whether it comes from Britain or Germany or is Irish beef? Will the Minister accept that it is highly desirable to label the beef in order to give consumers a choice, particularly in view of the uncertainty of the scientific information?
I recommend to the Deputy, who has used the term, "the scientific position", that he use the appropriate term. If he finds bovine spongiform encephalopathy too big of a mouthful I suggest that he use the term BSE. It was the scaremongers in the British media who used the term the Deputy used. That has no scientific justification. Scare terms such as those used by the Deputy can lead to reactions. I recommend to the Deputy that if he wants to take a scientific approach he use the appropriate words or BSE. He should avoid using the other outrageous term which has given rise to understandable reaction.
I should like to thank the Minister for the lecture but I would appreciate a reply to my question.
I am calling on Deputy Connaughton, and Deputy Stagg should resume his seat.
On a point of order, I put a specific question to the Minister——
This spurious type of argument will not succeed.
It is not a spurious point of order.
I am asking the Deputy once more to resume his seat.
May I make a point order?
I know the point of order the Deputy will make; it will be a point of disorder. The Deputy should resume his seat.
The Minister has been over-simplistic in dealing with the problems experienced by the Irish renderers.The Minister seemed to indicate that meat and bonemeal were their only products and that there was no reason why those products should not be bought in France and Great Britain.
If the Deputy does not put a question I will move on.
Will the Minister agree that the resistance to such products means that our stores are filled with meat and bonemeal? There are 2,500 people employed in the rendering industry but the owners do not have anywhere to send their products. What can the Minister do about that? My colleagues say they will close down on 1 July.
There was a suggestion at the all day and night meeting that there should be blanket provisions against the meat and bonemeal industry throughout the EC.
They will not buy it.
As President of the Council I was able to ensure we resisted that on the basis that in countries where there is a properly controlled industry, such as in Ireland, there was no justification for such action. We have guaranteed that the industry is properly controlled here. The standard and reputation of the Irish industry is the best guarantee——
They will still not purchase it in France.
What does the Deputy want me to do?
Considering that renderers will close their plants if they cannot sell their product will the Minister take up this matter immediately with the French authorities? The majority of the product produced here is exported to France. If these plants close there would be serious consequences for the beef and lamb industries.
I am prepared not only to give such an assurance but am available to meet the renderers at a convenient time. Deputies know I have been engaged——
For six or eight months.
Does the Deputy suggest I have been on holidays? I expect to be at home a little more now. We have a Council meeting next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but as soon as it is possible I will meet them.
I will inform the renderers.
I refer the Minister to the report of the 20 hour meeting which the Agricultural Ministers had, to the statement that a package of additional safety measures were designed to reassure consumers that there was no danger and to his statement that it was a compromise. Will the Minister elaborate on that?
We increased the range of research into this disease about which there may be things we do not yet know. That was part of the agreement reached. The monitoring facilities in each country, particularly in the UK, are to be improved and the disease is to be a compulsorily notifiable one in each country. We have already done that here. We go looking for it but other countries might not be as diligent. Many of the animals we slaughtered were not affected by BSE.
Given the concerns expressed here, does the Minister consider that labelling beef as to source in order to give the consumer a choice would be desirable?
It is not acceptable under EC regulations to label under the national name. Distributors in various countries have their reasons for wanting to use the labels. In many countries there are Irish beef counters and the number of such counters is increasing rapidly. I hope that will continue to be the case.
