Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I can assure Deputy Smith that any legal practices will be dealt with using the full force of the law. I agree with him that the highest standards must apply throughout the equine industry. I know he has not done this and it would be wrong for anyone to seek to portray what we witnessed last night on RTÉ "Prime Time Investigates" as representative of the wider equine industry because I genuinely do not believe it is. The Government supports the equine industry because it is a very important part of the Irish economy and a very important part of our society as well. It contributes almost €2.5 billion in economic output every year and supports almost 30,000 jobs across the Irish economy. As we know, these jobs are particularly important in the regions and around rural Ireland. Almost €16 million of the funding the State gives to HRI is ring-fenced and for welfare and indeed for integrity. Animal welfare and integrity are specifically funded and the Government insists on the highest standards throughout the system. Clearly what we witnessed last night is evidence that that is not the case everywhere, and that will be dealt with.

There is a full-time veterinary presence in the slaughter plant on the days on which slaughter takes place. Ante mortem, post mortem and identity checks are carried out in accordance with the legal obligations. I am assured that the Department takes any issues of non-compliance with welfare or traceability rules extremely seriously. That is why as soon as this matter was brought to its attention through the contact RTÉ had with the Department in recent weeks, a formal investigation was initiated and is now under way. We need to allow that to take its course. We are satisfied that sufficient statutory powers are there and indeed very strong statutory penalties for any proven breach of the rules in this regard. The Department treats this with the utmost seriousness.

See this speech in context