Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 21 Jun 1990

Vol. 400 No. 3

Written Answers. - Meat Industry Irregularities.

Tomás MacGiolla

Ceist:

38 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the present position regarding consultations with the European Commission to discuss the outcome of sampling operations in relation to irregularities in the meat industry and the possible level of penalties to be imposed; the number of occasions on which this matter has been discussed with the Commission since 14 February 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. O'Kennedy)

Since 14 February there have been a number of discussions between my Department and the Commission services. The matters under discussion centre on the implementation of complex regulatory provisions and also the determination of appropriate financial corrections having regard to the nature and incidence of the infringements observed.

However, it is not possible at this stage to say what financial corrections will be applied. As I have already indicated to the House on 14 February most of the subsidies have, as is usual, already been paid to the firms concerned but in all cases the amounts paid are secured by irrevocable guarantees from approved financial institutions.