There was widespread disgust last night at the vile scenes and blatant disregard for our existing laws shown on the investigative programme by “Prime Time”. Young calves were being kicked, beaten with sticks, dragged by their tails, legs or ears and thrown on and off trailers. These cruel practices by some people in some marts are very much not reflective of how handlers, mart staff and farmers treat animals.

I welcome the investigation undertaken by the Department. I am conscious that will take time. It needs to be thorough and prompt. In the meantime, we need accountability. The Taoiseach has said this is not about one sector or another. There is cruelty and people have broken the law. We need accountability. The people in the footage who were breaking the law and engaging in cruel practices should not remain in their jobs. Is that an approach the Government will take on this? These people should not be next or near animals.

I thank Deputy Kerrane for raising this important issue. My Department and I condemn the cruelty we witnessed in the programme last night. I share the Deputy’s sentiments on that. We in the Department take any such breaches of our strict animal welfare guidelines very seriously and wish people who have any information around them to share it with us. We have requested from RTÉ the videos and will pursue those matters. It is incumbent on all of us. I agree with the Deputy that this is not common practice. Farmers and people who work with animals care deeply for them. This bad practice is an abhorrence to all of us and we will pursue it with all the rigours of the law.