THE Minister for Agriculture has asked the Attorney General to advise him if farmers convicted on animal substance abuse charges can be banned from farming for life. Mr Yates has said he is awaiting the legal advice.
The Irish Farmers' Association(IFA) yesterday announced the expulsion of seven members convicted recently in the courts on such charges.
A further seven farmers not yet dealt with by the courts have lost official premium payments this year. These seven were either found with animals illegally treated with hormones or angel dust, or owned land on which such substances were found, or obstructed investigations.
Mr Yates said that EU and Department of Agriculture regulations in force since July 1st meant that any farmer who offended would lose one year's headage and premium payments.
"People will be debarred because half the beef farmer's income comes from a cheque in the post. The regulations will purge agriculture of these people. It will cut them off at the knees," he said.
He announced that the latest figures for antibiotic residues in pork had fallen to 3.6 per cent and pledged to stamp out the problem of residues in all meat very quickly.
Mr Yates expressed regret that the Department had not published the residue levels for the first quarter of 1996, when levels were found to be 21 per cent.
Meanwhile, the IFA said it was expelling members convicted in the courts in an attempt to reaffirm farmers' commitment to quality and to fully restore consumer confidence in beef and all food products.
The national council also said that any member convicted of introducing BSE into a herd would be expelled from the association.
Last night the IFA press office named those who are to be expelled. They are Denis Feighery, of Ellickstown, Co Meath, and Castleknock, Co Dublin; Michael Keogan, Tieroghan, Enfield, Co Meath; Bernard Kearney, Gibbstown, Co Meath; John Kearney, Allenstown, Kells, Co Meath; Ronald Armitage, Uskane, Borrisokane, Co Tipperary; Seamus McHugh, Whitepark, Curraghhoy, Co Roscommon; and Martin Hogan, Kylebeg, Borrisokane, Co Tipperary.