Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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515. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which adequate slaughtering facilities remain readily available to meet the needs of beef, lamb and pig producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7463/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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All slaughter plants whose meat is destined for human consumption must meet the requirements set out in detailed EU food safety regulations, generally referred to as the ‘Hygiene Package’. These regulations are implemented in Ireland under the European Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 432 of 2009). Large scale slaughter plants and all plants involved in equine slaughter operate under the supervision of my Department.  Primary responsibility for the safety of food placed on the market lies with food business operators (FBOs).

The slaughter process and the handling of animals going to slaughter take place under strictly supervised conditions.  My Department has a permanent presence in each of the slaughter plants under it’s supervision and Department staff, with the assistance of temporary veterinary inspectors engaged on a contract basis, carry out regular checks as park of official regulatory controls.

My Department currently approves 153 establishments, ranging from cold-storage facilities to large slaughter and cutting plants processing a wide range of species including bovine, ovine, porcine etc.  41 of these establishments cater for Beef, Ovine and Porcine slaughter.

While my Department is responsible for the approval, supervision and regulation of the slaughter industry, the provision of slaughter facilities is a commercial issue.

A full list of these establishments can be found on my Departments website at