The most recent comprehensive examination of slaughtering capacity in the beef export plants, which was carried out by McKinsey consultants in 1997, indicated that the industry had an active slaughtering capacity in 1997 of the order of 70,000 cattle per week. This is in excess of the capacity needed to accommodate likely peak slaughterings in the foreseeable future. I share the view expressed by Mc Kinsey and subsequently endorsed by the beef task force and the agri-food 2010 committee that the removal of excess slaughtering capacity would both improve the profitability of the industry through lower unit costs and enhance its ability to compete on the European market.