Burial Licences for Fallen Animals - Jackie Cahill

The Chairperson of the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee, Jackie Cahill TD has welcomed the Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue’s recent decision to consider burial licences for fallen animals in cases where animal collectors will not take fallen animals to Northern Ireland for rendering.

Deputy Cahill has called this development a ‘positive and common-sense position’ to the ongoing dispute between knackeries and rendering plants, where herdowners are being left with fallen animals on their farm who cannot get them collected.

Speaking on this today, the Fianna Fáil TD said: “I welcome the recent comments from Minister Charlie McConalogue in relation to the ongoing issue farmers are facing with the removal of fallen animals from their farms.

“There are serious and obvious environmental concerns on farms where fallen animals are left without collection due to this ongoing dispute. It is a positive and common-sense position to permit farmers to bury animals, under strict conditions, in cases where they cannot get them collected.”

The Minister has confirmed that acquiring a burial licence will come with conditions and a farmer must inform the local Regional Veterinary Office of the Department of Agriculture who can then provide the famer with the information required.