Cattle destruction scheme to get underway
The Cattle Destruction Scheme, which is hoped will rid Ireland of BSE and restore consumer confidence in beef, gets underway today.
Up to 25,000 cattle a week could be heading for destruction, with 18 meat plants saying they will take part in the scheme.
The President of the Irish Farmers Association, Tom Parlon, says the need to destroy cattle is unfortunate but necessary and believes that it will be a while before the full impact of the destruction scheme is seen.
Mr Parlon also rejects claims in a Sunday newspaper that the Government was aware that BSE-infected meat was being consumed.
He says mechanisms are now in place to detect any new cases of the disease.
