Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last year, the Department of agriculture confirmed it had suspended the operations of the Shannonside Foods plant in County Kildare. There was much discussion in this House, as there was at the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, of which I was a member. There was also a lot of discussion and debate about this issue in the Dáil. I acknowledge the amazing work of "RTÉ Investigates", which initially investigated the issue and highlighted it in the national media. The allegations concerned animal welfare abuses and cruelty in the treatment of horses that were being sent for the slaughter at Ireland's only licensed equine abattoir. I am concerned about the delay in the publication of the final report into all of the issues surrounding the Shannonside operation. I expect that the role of the Department of agriculture in overseeing all regulatory aspects of the operation will also be covered. That is one of my concerns. It is all very well to investigate the Shannonside Foods plant but it is also important that we look at the regulatory obligations bestowed on the Department of agriculture and its veterinary inspectors, who were present at the site on many occasions. It is, therefore, important that we have all of the facts.

I confirm that last week, I received correspondence from the Minister confirming that his Department continues to work in collaboration with An Garda Síochána in undertaking an extensive investigation into the serious matters at the Shannonside Foods plant that were highlighted by the "RTÉ Investigates" programme to ensure there is accountability for those responsible.I ask for the report's publication. It is a long time coming. I want the publication of this report, I want it put into the public domain and I want a further debate when the report is fully published.