Animal Slaughtering

Thursday, 27 June 2024

Questions (216)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

216. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to what extent officials of his Department carried out regular and thorough inspections of the horse abattoir at Straffan, County Kildare that was the subject of a recent RTÉ Investigates programme in order to ensure that best practice was at all times observed and that there were no opportunities for the introduction of any alternative procedures; if these inspectors had access to the entire site, and not just the slaughter house, at all times; if the conditions thereat were at all times compliant with international best practice, standards and requirements; whether there were no exceptions, and that cruelty to animals could not occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27667/24]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

A veterinary presence was maintained at the approved slaughter plant on each day of slaughter to ensure compliance with EU and National regulations related to public health, animal health, and animal welfare. These regulations do not provide for the introduction of any alternative procedures. It is important to clarify that the footage shown in the RTE program focuses on activities at a holding facility close to the slaughter plant, which is not part of the approved premises and would not have been subject to the specific official controls required at the slaughter premises.

There was a full-time Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) presence at the slaughter plant during slaughter hours, carrying out robust official controls on the horses presented for slaughter. These controls included:

• Identity checks comparing horses presented to the passport

• Checks against the DAFM central equine database

• Ante-mortem inspections for welfare and health issues

• Post-mortem inspections

As part of this regulatory oversight, six non-compliance reports were issued to the business operator in 2023. All the non-compliances related to operational hygiene matters and were investigated and resolved satisfactorily