Mr. Michael Sheahan:

It is actually the Department of Health that pays for the local authority veterinary service, but that is only a minor point. We have no control as things stand over the local authority veterinary service. On the general point about small abattoirs closing down, and we met the craft butchers recently with Deputy Fitzmaurice as it happens, there is a possibility later this year that the Department of agriculture will take over the local authority veterinary service and deal with the small abattoirs. I reiterate that we have no agenda to close down small businesses. In fact, it is the opposite and we try to encourage those local enterprises.