Referring to The Irish Times reports earlier this week on the smuggling of livestock, Mr Joe Costello (Labour) said the Minister for Justice should be asked to give the House an up-to-date report on the Garda investigation into the foot-andmouth outbreak here.
He said Sean MacConnell had reported in The Irish Times in relation to the whole smuggling business. Information which had been obtained under Freedom of Information legislation had shown that in November 1998 20,000 lambs a week were coming into this State from abroad. That demonstrated widespread corruption right down the entire line. A small but sizeable element was involved in law-breaking and smuggling animals into the State with a consequent danger to the economy and to the health of the population.
Ms Margaret Cox (FF) said she had been getting disturbing reports from large Galway-based companies that suppliers to canteens were increasing the cost of meat products by between 45 per cent and 50 per cent. While they were dealing with the foot-and-mouth crisis, she could not understand how this was affecting food and food products in this State.
Mr Michael Finneran (FF) said he too had been approached by a number of hotels and restaurants who were flabbergasted that in some cases meat prices had doubled in the last number of weeks. "This does not measure up to the situation as regards supply in this country and I am of the opinion that there's a certain rip-off at this particular time."
He said the Minister with responsibility for consumer affairs should be asked to come to the House so that the matter could be debated.
Dr Maurice Hayes (Ind), nominated to the House by the Taoiseach, said he wished to inform members that Lord Alderdice, Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, had written to him offering Seanad members resident in Northern Ireland full courtesy and facilities of the Stormont building. "I have accepted that as a courtesy to this House and as an honour to the House, and I thought I should inform my colleagues."