Page 118 of the programme for Government document refers to how the horse and greyhound sectors are fundamentally important to rural Ireland and must be protected. In recent weeks we have read in national and international newspapers that there is another horsemeat scandal emanating from Ireland. It would appear that horses have entered the food chain from a licensed facility under the control of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with incorrect passports, double microchips and banned medications. Information has also come to my attention that horses not fit for human consumption were slaughtered at a facility licensed to slaughter horses fit for human consumption on the same day that horses were being processed for the food chain. Is the Government aware of what is going on? What steps is the Government taking on this matter?

In the first instance, as in the last horsemeat scandal and the pork meat scandal, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland is the competent authority that deals with it. Some of the allegations or contentions made by the Deputy are of a criminal nature. If the Deputy has evidence pertaining to that issue, he should bring it to the relevant authorities.