Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 July 2024
330. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department did not revoke and-or temporarily halt the operating licence of a facility (details supplied); when his Department was made aware of microchip issues at the plant, indicating a possible risk to the food chain and Ireland’s reputation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27833/24]
View answerAbout 3 weeks prior to the broadcast of the 12 June RTÉ Investigates documentary my Department was provided with information that related to the supply of equines for slaughter to the plant in question and alleged breaches of animal welfare and traceability legislation. Upon receipt of that information an investigation into activities involving the supply of equines for slaughter was initiated immediately by my Department with the support and assistance of An Garda Síochána. It would not have been appropriate for the Department to take escalated action against the plant operator until there was visual evidence to substantiate the general and non-specific information that had been provided to it, and when this became available my Department acted very swiftly, by revoking the plant’s approval two days after the broadcast.
Notwithstanding this, after the Department had been provided with specific information on this matter, it took appropriate action to ensure that no animals that were presented for slaughter were permitted to enter the food chain. This included the issuing of legal notice detaining all carcases presented for slaughter on 5 June. Following the conclusion of the Department’s investigation on this specific matter it had ordered the destruction of these carcasses. An appeal against this by the plant operator was denied in Limerick District Court on 19 June, with the court upholding the decision of the Department. I can now confirm that, under supervision by my Department, all these carcasses were transported for destruction to a rendering plant on Friday 28 June.
