Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. As he may be aware, new conditions are coming in from Europe every year. The export of slurry is an example. Obviously, such new conditions require resources, as do the various schemes that the Minister introduces. What I am hearing from inside the Department is that people are being told that, if they are short staffed, then they will not get new staff until someone in the Department retires. This might not officially count as an embargo, but it is an embargo.

I wish to address something that is causing concern. I understand that a lairage in Dublin is to close while a lairage will open in the west to handle cattle for export. Resources will be required in that regard.

While this does not have to do with the Department’s staff directly, there is a problem with abattoirs. Councils are saying they have not received an allocation from the FSAI through the Department. This is causing a major problem for the small abattoir sector.

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