Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 23 May 1996

Vol. 465 No. 8

Written Answers. - Cattle Import Ban.

Helen Keogh

Ceist:

24 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the sanctions and penalties which apply for the importing of cattle from Northern Ireland to the Republic in view of the BSE crisis; the number of seizures that have been made; the number of prosecutions pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9790/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

The EU directive governing movement of animals between EU member states is implemented in Ireland by the European Communities (Trade in Animals and Animal Products) Regulations, 1994. In addition, the EU decision to ban the exportation of cattle and bovine products from the UK was implemented by regulations adopted by me on 28 March 1996. These regulations contain a wide range of powers, including penalties of up to 12 months imprisonment and fines of up to £1,000 and, in certain cases, the destruction and disposal of the animals concerned.

To date, 33 seizures of animals have been made since the entry into force of the EU prohibition on the export from the United Kingdom of,inter alia, bovine animals. In 19 of these cases, the animals have either been destroyed or a notice of destruction served. Prosecutions in relation to such illegal trade are hampered by the difficulty in determining in many cases the actual importer of the animals or by the fact that the importer resides outside the jurisdiction.