On 11 April 1990, I made two separate orders under the mergers legislation. One of these orders deals specifically with DJS Meats Limited in Donegal and provides that title to the shares in or the assets of DJS shall not pass until Master Meat Packers (Omagh) Limited are disposed of as a going concern and cease to be under common control with AIBP or connected parties.
The second order relates to Master Meat Packers (Bandon) Limited and provides that title to the shares in or the assets of Master Meat Packers (Bandon) Limited shall not pass until the Master Meat Packers Group, which includes the four Classic Meats plants referred to by the Deputy, are disposed of as a going concern and cease to be under common control with AIBP or connected parties.
Both orders required that the takeovers be effected within 12 months of the making of the orders, that is, by midnight on 10 April 1991.
Additionally the orders have continuing effect, namely, that no agreement, arrangement or understanding that would prevent, restrict or distort competition in the purchase of cattle in the State shall be entered into between AIBP and the Master Meat Packers Group; and after the passing of title to the shares in, or the assets of, either DJS Meats Limited or Master Meat Packers (Bandon) Limited under the takeovers, none of the rest of the Master Meat Packers Group shall come under common control or ownership with AIBP.
I have been informed, by letter dated 11 April 1991, by solicitors acting for AIBP, that the conditions specified at article 5 of the order relating to DJS Meats Limited have been complied with and that the takeover, as defined in the order took place on 10 April 1991.
I was similarly informed on the same date that the conditions specified in the order relating to Master Meat Packers (Bandon) Limited have been complied with and that the takeover as defined in that order also took place on 10 April 1991. I was informed that sales of each of the four plants had taken place to four separate companies on 10 April 1991.
This information fell far short of what would be required to enable me to be sure that the conditions of the orders which I made last year have been fully complied with. I have, therefore, sought extensive additional information concerning the transactions outlined. Some of this information has been supplied but the bulk of it is still awaited.