Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the meat industry, as in every other part of the economy, the welfare and health of employees has to come first. The same rules apply to everyone in this regard. All employers must take every precaution they possibly can to keep employees safe. There is also an onus on the Government to work to ensure there is oversight and inspection in order to make sure those standards are being upheld. As of 5 February this year, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine had completed 666 inspections on behalf of the HSA, including unannounced inspections in Department-approved food premises. Those inspections are ongoing. To be clear, they are in addition to inspections carried out by the HSA itself and also in addition to the 49 premises where the Department has a permanent presence. As of 3 February, the HSA had completed 239 inspections of meat processing facilities since 18 May last year. Plant inspection numbers include those connected with Covid-19 outbreaks. Of the 239 inspections, 208 were unannounced and 31 were announced.

Right across the agrifood sector, where workers have been designated as essential, there have been many challenges in regard to infection because of the increased infection levels in the community. That makes it even more essential that the protocols are followed to the last in all settings, particularly the food processing sector. The Government is doing all we can to ensure the oversight is in place and the standards are being upheld.

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