Meat plant viewing area debate

PROVISION to ensure that farmers have a clear and unimpeded view of the scales in meat plants should be made a part of the Government’s €50 million capital grants scheme for meat processing facilities, according to Fine Gael TD Denis Naughten, who raised the issue in the Dáil.

Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan told him in a written reply, however, that officials of her department carry out regular inspections of meat plants to ensure that weighing equipment is operating efficiently and that weighing procedures are being correctly carried out in a consistent manner.

“In some instances it might not be practical for the meat plant to install a viewing area because of building design,” she pointed out.