The slaughtering of cattle at a plant in Co Cavan was suspended yesterday by the Department of Agriculture and Food after a small piece of specified risk material (SRM) was found attached to a carcass exported by the plant to Northern Ireland.
The Department confirmed that the suspension of slaughter at Liffey Meats in Bally jamesduff, Co Cavan, would remain in force while a review of procedures for the removal and segregation of SRM at the plant was carried out.
The Department said it had conducted a detailed examination of all other stocks of bonein beef in the plant and all were found to be in order. It also confirmed that the exported carcass found to contain some SRM was "from a steer which has been tested as BSE-negative".
Yesterday, the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland claimed that evidence of profiteering by SRM collection agents was emerging "as a result of the measures introduced by the Government in regard to the BSE crisis".
The ACBI called on the Minister for Agriculture and Food "to take whatever steps are necessary to restore a fair regime in this market". The association also urged the Minister "to break up the cartel operating in relation to offal collection".
Only one new case of BSE was detected this week, the Minister, Mr Walsh, said yesterday. He criticised companies for importing cheap German beef into the State.
Mr Walsh, who was in Cavan town to launch a £260 million on-farm development package for farmers, called on beef importers to stop importing this beef at this "inappropriate and critical time".
The on-farm investment schemes announced yesterday were the Farm Waste Management Scheme, the Improvement of Dairy Hygiene Standards Scheme and the Housing/Hand ling Facilities for Alternative Farm Enterprises Scheme.
The Minister said £181 million had been put aside for the investment aid for farm waste management with grants to a maximum of £40,000 paid on a tiered basis of 40 per cent to smaller farmers and 20 per cent for bigger holdings.
He said £36 million had been set aside for the improvement of dairy hygiene standards. It was expected that 5,000 farmers would avail of this scheme by the end of 2006, with grants of up to £25,000 to cover dairy equipment.
Up to 3,000 farmers would be eligible for housing/handling facilities for alternative farm enterprises such as horses, goats, deer and rabbits. The Minister said £13 million had been set aside for the scheme.
The Government has earmarked £30 million for the Installation Aid for Young Farmers Scheme. Mr Walsh said he expected 3,800 young farmers to apply for the aid, which had been increased to £7,500.