Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 469: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if employees of plants under the control of her Department who are engaged to slaughter animals on a commercial scale are required to be given training in the process; if they are furnished with appropriate equipment to carry out the slaughter humanely; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23676/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the provisions of the European Communities (Protection of Animals at Time of Slaughter) Regulations, 1995, a person engaged to slaughter animals in a slaughterhouse must have the knowledge and skill necessary to perform the task humanely and efficiently and be licensed by a local authority. The responsibility for ensuring that the person employed for slaughtering has the necessary knowledge and skill lies with the owner-person in charge of the slaughterhouse. Where an officer of my Department is of the opinion that a person employed for slaughtering does not possess the necessary knowledge and skill, the officer may direct the owner-person in charge of the slaughterhouse, to arrange a staff training programme to enable the slaughter person achieve the standards appropriate to that type of employment. In addition, the owner-person in charge of the slaughterhouse must ensure that equipment used for the slaughter of animals is designed, maintained and used in compliance with the animal welfare legislative requirements.