Batt O'Keeffe
Ceist:56 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he accepts the findings of the beef tribunal; and if he has implemented all the recommendations contained in the report. [4555/96]
Written Answers. - Beef Tribunal Recommendations.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:102 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has satisfied himself with the current controls in the beef processing industry; the total number of recommendations in the Report on the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Beef Processing Industry; the number of recommendations which have not yet been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4721/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 102 together. The Government committed itself in the Programme for a Partnership Government to the implementation of the recommendations of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Beef Processing Industry.
In regard to the functions of the intervention agency the tribunal indicated that the control improvements made by the Department had "rendered unnecessary many of the recommendations which might otherwise have been made by the tribunal". In fact it confined itself to two specific recommendations relating to intervention purchasing and aids for private storage, or APS. Arrangements have been made to ensure that the recommendations are implemented whenever intervention purchasing or APS is in operation in Ireland.
The tribunal report also stated on page 717 that "the tribunal is satisfied that the Department has addressed the problems disclosed therein (i.e. in the evidence before the tribunal) and has set up a system and established controls which, if fully implemented and sufficient trained staff employed, would greatly lessen the possibility of irregularities and malpractices occurring in the future and recommends that these systems and controls be rigorously enforced". It is my intention that these systems and controls will be rigorously enforced.