17 Mr. Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the legal action, if any, that has been taken by his Department in relation to pursuing meat companies for irregularities that gave rise to the beef fine about to be imposed in view of the evidence of the Secretary of his Department to the Public Accounts Committee on Thursday, 22 February 1996. [4679/96]

The proposed disallowance is not company specific. In relation to possible recovery from traders, the Government has established a group of senior officials from the Department of Finance, the Office of the Attorney General and my Department to examine this question. On completion of its work, the group's report will be submitted to Government.