Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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283. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the price beef farmers are receiving for their produce from factories; the number of times to date that beef processing factories have been fined for breaching EU carcase trimming rules; the range of fines imposed; the maximum fine that can be imposed; the number of inspections by officials in 2018 to such factories to check whether grading and trimming are in compliance with regulations; the names of factories fined in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12700/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1184 of 20 April 2017 governs the monitoring of carcase classification, carcase presentation and weighing. The question of the price paid for particular grades is a matter for the producers and processors.

Regarding sanctions, under legislation (SI 363/2010), non-compliance with the legislation attracts a maximum on the spot fine of €200 per carcase. In addition, any person who commits an offence under these Regulations is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or to both.

In 2018, my Department conducted almost 550 unannounced, on-the-spot inspections in 32 factories on classification and carcase presentation. This significantly exceeds the minimum checks as laid down in the regulation. The breaches of carcase dressing presentation in 2018 have been published on the Department website.

Regarding inspections in 2019, it is my intention to publish details of any on-the-spot fines when the inspections and the processes concerned are complete.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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284. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the beef forum is due to next meet; and the number of meetings to date since the forum was established in tabular form. [12701/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Beef Roundtable was established in April 2014 in order to bring all the relevant stakeholders together and to facilitate open discussion between industry, farming organisations and others on the strategic path forward for the beef sector.

The forum has been held on twelve occasions. The last meeting was held on 03 October 2018. No date has been scheduled yet for the next meeting. However, I have had and continue to have regular bilateral contact with farming organisations and the wider beef industry about current issues of importance to the sector, particularly in the context of Brexit.

The following is a list of the dates of previous meetings.

1. April 2014

2. June 2014

3. October 2014

4. November 2014

5. February 2015

6. July 2015

7. December 2015

8. July 2016

9. November 2016

10. July 2017

11. February 2018

12. October 2018