Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 560: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the data his Department has regarding the accuracy of the quality system for grading cattle; if he will provide this Deputy with this data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7698/10]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 566: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of Department officials who are on site monitoring the quality pricing system cattle grid on a factory to factory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7897/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 560 and 566 together.

The new quality payment system was introduced a number of weeks ago following intensive negotiations between Meat Industry Ireland (MII) and the IFA. The payment system makes use of sub-classes to determine the price paid, with the aim of rewarding farmers for producing the better quality and higher value carcasses. The question of the price paid for particular grades is, of course, a matter for the producers and processors.

My Department conducts regular inspections of meat plants to ensure the accuracy and performance of the grading machines. A total of 472 control visits in meat plants were conducted during 2009, with 45,266 carcasses checked during these visits.

The Department produces an annual report each year containing detailed statistics on beef carcass classification in meat plants, which is publicly available on the Departments' website at http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmingsectors/beef/beefcarcassclassificationfigures/.