Jobs in the small abattoir and family butchers' sector were at risk because of the cost of meeting increasing hygiene demands, the House was told.

Mr Brian O'Shea (Lab, Waterford) said that 5,000 people were employed in the small abattoir sector and another 5,000 in the retail sector. "They need financial assistance because our standards are increasing and our regulations are becoming more demanding," he said. Given the scale of their businesses "many face the prospect of being put out of business unless the State can find a way to assist them".

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Ned O'Keeffe, said he fully acknowledged the role of the family butcher. However, new EU regulations prevented member-states from providing assistance to operators aimed at bringing them up to minimum hygiene and food safety standards. He added that his Department had drawn up standard operating procedures for small abattoirs, slaughtering less than six livestock a week, in an effort to ensure that costs incurred are minimised.