Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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332. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the direct steps his Department took to address the practices at a facility (details supplied) which was reportedly alerted by an inspector on 13 March 2018; the reason his Department continued to authorise the operation of the plant given the alert's significance for food safety and Ireland’s reputation; the security, scientific and health basis on which his Department deemed the operation fit and safe to continue; whether and how his Department can have confidence in the security of the equine microchip system given those revelations; the basis on which his Department has confidence in the food security of the industry given those revelations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27835/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department keeps all procedures in relation to its monitoring of all food businesses under constant review, on the basis of experience, audits, risk assessment, and the evolution of EU and National legislation. In 2018, the procedures in respect of equine slaughter plants were comprehensively reviewed and updated, with the issuing of a new consolidated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for equine slaughter plants. This SOP addressed a number of issues in respect of antemortem inspection of equines, postmortem inspection of equines, food chain information, identification/passport checks, and passport security features. It clarified a number of reasons why an equine must be deemed ineligible for the food chain- including if it has more than one microchip (unless the number of each is recorded in the passport).

In relation to individual plants, in addition to ongoing monitoring by Department staff, all slaughter plants are audited at least once per year by a Regional Manager with a view to assessing the ongoing suitability of the plant and its compliance with relevant legislation.

In light of recent developments highlighted by the RTE investigates programme in relation to equine traceability, my Department is reviewing all matters relating to this, and we are collaborating with the European Commission and other Member States to address what is an EU wide issue as well as an issue for individual member states.