Vol. 571 No. 2
221 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reasons cattle were removed from a person's property (details supplied) in County Carlow by Department officials without proper procedural methods being used in view of the fact that the person has not received any official confirmation for the reasons of removal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21476/03]
222 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Carlow to have cattle returned to that person's ownership which were removed from his possession in October 2002 by Department officials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21477/03]
223 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if there was a directive from his Department in regard to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow to search his property by the SIU section of the Department; if a search was carried out; the details of the result of the investigation and any other relevant information in regard to the query; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21478/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 to 223, inclusive, together.
The person concerned was the subject of a joint investigation between the special investigation unit of my Department and the Garda Síochána. As part of this investigation a search of his property was carried out on foot of a search warrant issued by the courts. In a follow up operation a number of cattle of unknown origin were seized and destroyed in accordance with EU and national legislation. As the matter is still sub judice it would not be prudent for me to comment further at his stage.
