THE Department of Food, Agriculture and the Marine has had four approaches from “credible people” enquiring about running an equine abattoir, following the closure of Shannonside Foods Ltd in Straffan, Co Kildare, after an RTÉ Investigates programme uncovered welfare issues and alleged fradulent horse identification activity.

Speaking in front of the Oireachtas joint Agriculture Committee on Wednesday evening, deputy chief veterinary officer Michael Sheahan said he does not have a timeline of when there might be an appropriate equine slaughtering plant back up and running in Ireland.

“I’m slightly surprised I have to say, we’ve had four approaches that I’m aware of, all credible people. I don’t want to give the impression that suddenly someone is going to open up a slaughter plant, but at least it is good that there are some credible people enquiring; there are genuine reasons why they want to step in and try and help.

“They are asking what exactly they would need to do and what’s involved. Some of them may or may not need some modifications to be able to deal with horse carcasses, because particularly the height of rails is a difficulty when it comes to slaughtering horses.”

It was confirmed at the meeting that 510 non-thoroughbred horses were slaughtered at Shannonside Foods in 2023, as well as 1,440 thoroughbreds.

EU meeting

A meeting organised by the European Commission on Wednesday was attended by member states and the law enforcement agency Europol, who will take a significant role in coordinating the international investigation into food fraud across Europe.

Dr Avril Hobson, the Department’s Senior Superintending Veterinary Inspector, said the meeting discussed increasing collaboration and cooperation between member states looking at all regulations and aspects relating to equine identification and traceability. “They sought, and we confirmed, that we will be assisting them in every way we can,” Mr Sheahan said.

Dr Hobson, who is responsible for public health, also said that bilateral food safety alerts have been issued in recent days off the back of the potential food fraud among horses slaughtered in Straffan.

A meeting has been organised between the DAFM and their counterparts in Northern Ireland for Monday to discuss the cross-border issues that were identified in the traceability and identification of horses.