Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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1304. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the oversight and regulation of the capture of wallabies here (details supplied) and for the slaughtering of these animals for their meat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37096/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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All slaughter plants whose meat is destined for human consumption must meet the standards set out in EU and national regulations relating to food safety.

Large scale slaughter plants and all plants involved in equine slaughter operate under the supervision of my Department, while smaller scale abattoirs are supervised by the Local Authority Veterinary Service, under service contract with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

I understand that the food business operator concerned in this instance operates under the supervision of South Dublin County Council. The legislation also requires that a person engaged in wild game hunting activity be registered, and in addition the hunter requires permission from the landowner and a current firearms licence for the firearm in use.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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1305. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a company (details supplied) will have a dominant position or a monopoly position in the slaughtering of organic beef cattle here when a merger goes through; the guidelines for fair competition in such a case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37101/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I am very much aware of the importance of competition in the beef sector. It is crucial to have a robust and transparent legal basis for the evaluation of proposals for mergers and acquisitions.

There is a well established infrastructure, at EU level, and at National level through the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, for the oversight of competition issues and for handling allegations of anti-competitive practices or the abuse of a dominant market position.

I note that the merger referred to by the Deputy was notified to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission 05/09/2017 who will carry out the appropriate investigation into the proposed merger.