Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. It is important to clarify that there is no legal definition of a feedlot herd. The Department defines certain herds as controlled finishing units, CFUs, in the context of the bovine TB eradication programme. This definition is unique to that programme and does not necessarily mirror the use of the term "feedlot" by the public and-or other institutions. CFUs are subject to enhanced biosecurity measures as part of the TB programme and can only sell direct to slaughter.

The Department's statutory responsibility in the context of meat plants is to approve slaughter plants in accordance with the European Union (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2020 and after that to ensure that its approved plants operate in compliance with the EU's food hygiene legislation and animal health and welfare standards. The Department's remit in regard to finishing units is to ensure that they operate in compliance with the EU's animal health and welfare standards. The Department cannot, in carrying out this process, take into account issues such as the concentration of ownership of inputs to processing as it is outside the scope of this remit.

I have acknowledged the importance of transparency in the market for primary producers. The Department is progressing several initiatives under my ministerial stewardship to increase transparency. Central to my commitment to transparency is the establishment of a new office, to be called the office of the national food ombudsman or something similar. The additional powers to be assigned to the new office by primary legislation, going beyond those in the unfair trading practices directive, are currently the subject of public consultation, which is open until 26 May. This new office will have a specific role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland. As the Deputy will be aware, the Department and Bord Bia currently publish data in this regard.

The role of the new office will be central in achieving transparency and ultimately ensuring that farmers are getting the best price possible in the market and that their income is maximised.

See this speech in context