Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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Given the culture within the Department itself and how we ended up in this situation, maybe there are structural changes involved. Maybe changes in legislation are required. Maybe there is the issue of having a database, something similar to what is there on the bovine side that provides traceability all the way through. All those issues need to be on the table at this stage. Those issues were considered during the BSE crisis for the bovine herd and within a matter of months, a scheme was put in place - it ran through Clonakilty at the time - that was effective in providing traceability through the entire bovine herd.

It is beyond belief that we are stuck in a situation where we do not have the same scenario when it comes to the horse industry. Have we learned anything from the 2013 scandal and the processes that happened at that time, in particular, when in came to horse meat getting into the food chain? I am asking what will be the next phase. If it has not learned from 2013 and if it has not taken into consideration what worked in 1996 in the BSE crisis, what will be the long-term focus on how the Department can change its approach?

Which entity will conduct that investigation? It will not be the Garda Síochána and I hope to God it will not be the special investigation unit. There has to be a third phase to this and I have not heard who that is tonight.