Green Party leader Trevor Sargent yesterday expressed concern at incidents of cattle being smuggled across the Border.
Deputy Sargent, who raised the matter in the Dáil before Christmas with Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan, said that he was dissatisfied with her replies.
Mr Sargent referred to the discovery of calves wandering on a road near Ballybofey, Co Donegal, on October 12th.
This was reported in The Irish Times on October 14th.
Because the calves were untagged, they were taken away and destroyed after communications between Donegal County Council and the Department of Agriculture.
Mr Sargent said it was unacceptable that occurrences such as the one at Ballybofey were allowed to continue.
"Not only is it putting more pressure on the cattle farmers in the State but also it is a major concern that untagged cattle would be sold to consumers who purchase it under the misapprehension that it is Irish beef," he said in a statement yesterday.
"The Minister can give chapter and verse about the department's traceability processes, but enforcement is what matters here.
"It does not bear thinking about the number of calves which may have slipped into the State to be sold on as Irish beef.
"This is another example of how the Government is treating the Irish farming industry in a haphazard fashion when the current climate has already placed enough pressure on the farmer."
A Department of Agriculture spokesman said last night that there had been no recorded incidents since the one referred to by Mr Sargent.
"That matter was dealt with by Donegal County Council in October, and we have no evidence of smuggling," he said.
"Our record on traceability of cattle stands, and our commitment to the consumer is paramount."