Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will start with the Chair's opening statements regarding what happened last week with the slaughtering of the horses. We are very much aware of the disappointing show on TV regarding the issue, the knock-on implications for the industry and how it affected confidence in the entire industry. Statements were made at last week's hearings that it was new to them that there was cloning of microchips. I read in The Irish Field, Irish Examiner and Kilkenny People in the past few days that this issue has been under investigation in the Department since 2019 and there have been different court cases throughout the country. Cloning of microchips is an issue that appears to have existed for some time. We are concerned by the actions of the Department over the past five years, particularly with regard to the cloning of microchips.

What have the issues been? What work has been done to ensure that we have a robust system that cannot be overridden by individuals for their own monetary gain? The witnesses might give clarity about the microchip issue, the cloning, when the Department became aware of it and what the Department is doing about the issue. What are the knock-on implications for the food chain? Some members were involved here in 2013 when we had the horsemeat scandal and how that operated. Significant reports were done. Have all those measures been implemented? Has the traceability factor been addressed? I spoke to a lady today who had her horse put down, an old cob of several years. She asked what she did with the passport. In a bovine system, that would not happen, because we know exactly how traceability systems and where it goes. It will go to a knackery at some stage. We are concerned about traceability and what systems are in place.

As the Chair rightly said, there is a 42-day period to register a calf and, if not, the farmer is in breach. There is everything else in between. People might not have to register a horse for a decade. Horses are potentially not being microchipped for a period. I realise there are no financial implications here, which are present in the farming community, but we have a system which is really not working. I am genuinely concerned about microchipping and cloning of microchips. How much has been done to try to sort out that issue? The other issue is the food chain. Has it been breached? If so, what volume are we talking about? The volumes talked about last week went up to 100 animals. Nobody believes it is just 100 animals. How significant is the potential breach? The witnesses might inform me how the process works for going down the line and what the long-term implication will be for how we will have a robust, working system.