Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 856: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in view of the recently identified discrepancies in cattle grading at meat factories, the steps he will take to address the issue of appropriate payment for the animals which are wrongly graded; if he will ensure that in view of the more complex grading classification system now in place, that this matter will not recur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15245/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Mechanical grading was introduced over five years ago in Ireland and is now well established and accepted as an independent, objective and consistent system for classifying beef carcasses. The mechanical grading system is objective because it makes use of certain measurements of the carcass by the machine to determine carcass grade, as opposed to the subjective visual assessment of the human grader.

Since the introduction of mechanical grading, officials of my Department have carried out regular unannounced inspections of meat plants to monitor the accuracy and performance of the grading machines. For example, in 2009 a total of 415 control visits were conducted with over 41,000 carcasses checked during these visits. On each occasion, the performance of the machine is compared to the performance criteria laid down in the relevant EU Regulations. I wish to assure the Deputy that the grading machines continue to operate very well since their introduction into the meat plants.

The price paid for cattle is a matter for the beef producer and the meat plant. As you are aware the new pricing grid makes use of sub-classes within each main class. This provides a more precise assessment of conformation and fat grade than when using main classes only. The new pricing system aims to reward those farmers who produce a better quality carcass.