Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person has a right to view his or her animal being slaughtered in a meat plant and to view the weighing scales; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31174/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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These are commercial matters between a person selling animals for slaughter and the meat factory involved. However, the presence of a person or persons on the factory floor can only occur if it does not compromise the requirements of either health and safety legislation or meat hygiene legislation.

The accuracy of weighing scales at meat plants is governed by the Metrology Act 1996. Under section 14 of that Act, plants are obliged to provide evidence of such conformity. Where a meat plant fails so to do, the Minister for Agriculture and Food may suspend weighing operations of a meat plant until such time as conformity is achieved. This last provision is set out in article 5 of the European Communities (Beef Carcase Classification) Regulations 2004 (SI No. 45 of 2004).