Meat factory checks halve in 3 years

Government inspections of meat factories, such as the plant at the heart of the burger controversy, have halved in the last three years.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney confirmed that his department carried out 10,144 inspections of meat plants in 2009. That figure had dropped to 7,189 in 2011 and, by Sept 2012, there had only been 4,565 inspections.

The drop means that, between 2009 and 2012, the number of compliance notices issued to factories has fallen from 151 to 32.