Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

For parts of the country, it will be of great benefit to be able to dispose of animals in Northern Ireland; however, for the part of the country I represent, and I dare say any part south of that, it will be less helpful, purely because of the geography. The cost of driving dead animals from west Cork to Northern Ireland would be prohibitive. I do not know whether the Minister can tell us how many fallen animals have been sent to Northern Ireland since the agreement was made. It may well be that it is very helpful. It is good if it is in Border areas or even further south. However, in Clare, and, I dare say, any part of Munster or south Leinster, it is less of a solution.

With regard to the ability to dispose of animals on farm once strict environmental criteria are met, having applied to the Department of Agriculture, my question concerns the Department's expertise in applying the environmental criteria the Minister has set down. Will it cause a bottleneck? The Department has expertise in agriculture and perhaps veterinary matters but less so in environmental matters.

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