Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 290 of 20 June 2006, the progress to date on the inspection regime under the metrology law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43397/06]

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the role his Department has in monitoring the weighing equipment in meat slaughtering facilities; the number of discrepancies in such plants and the plants involved in each of the past two years; the last date on which each meat plant was inspected and equipment calibrated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43398/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 265 together.

The Deputy will be aware of the background to this matter from previous replies.

Weighing equipment used for trade is subject to control by the Legal Metrology Service in accordance with the Metrology Acts 1980 to 1998. The regime of control includes approval of new designs of weighing equipment, verification of instruments of an approved design upon installation and following repair or recalibration, and inspection over the life of the instruments.

Limited inspections of meat plants are continuing to be undertaken; 10 meat plants have been visited since June 2006. No breaches of the legislation requiring prosecution were found in the past two years.

The tabular statement contains details of the dates of last visits to meat plants.

As the Deputy was previously advised, a full programme of inspections for weighing equipment in meat processing plants will not be possible until an industrial relations issue relating to the hiring of private hauliers for the conveyance and lifting of test equipment is resolved.

A Labour Relations Commission hearing on 27 March 2006 was unsuccessful in resolving the matter and further negotiations are ongoing between management and staff representatives. An external facilitator was engaged and negotiations commenced in July 2006. It is expected that these will conclude shortly. Should the matter remain unresolved following these negotiations, it will be referred back for hearing by the Labour Relations Commission.