Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason for the delay by his Department in slaughtering all the contaminated pigs arising from the recent pork dioxin scandal and in particular the breeding sows; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2761/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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There has been no delay in my Department in dealing with the issues that arose in connection with pigs that have been or may have been exposed to contaminated feed. Immediately following receipt of the PCB positive results, movement restrictions were placed on 17 pig farms. There were in excess of 130,000 pigs on the farms from where pigs are to be slaughtered.

After consultation with the Commission of the European Union, I established a Compensation Framework for the determination of applications for ex-gratia compensation that may be paid as a result of the killing or slaughter of pigs deemed to be unfit for the food chain. Agreement was reached with pig farmers in relation to the calculation of market value for certain categories of pigs and to date some 100,000 pigs have been slaughtered. I acknowledge the co-operation of the farmers in this regard. Payments in respect of pigs slaughtered under the Compensation Framework are being processed on an ongoing basis. Discussions on this approach to market valuations in this case of other categories of pigs, including sows, are nearing completion and I would hope that slaughtering of these can commence shortly.