Sales of Irish meat in local butcher shops do not seem to have been affected by the foot-and-mouth crisis, according to the chief executive of the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland (ACBI), Mr Pat Brady.
He said this could be attributed to panic buying but was more likely to be because of the guaranteed traceability and trust consumers have in their local butcher shop.
Mr Brady said the spread of foot-and-mouth in the UK was due in part to excessive animal movement and the move there towards huge factory processing plants during the 1990s.
The vice-president of Veterinary Ireland, Mr Sean O Laoide, said "small domestic abattoirs provide for the slaughter, retail and consumption of meat locally. This assures consumers in relation to traceability". Mr Brady and Mr O Laoide were speaking at a press conference to announce a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of saving the small abattoir from extinction. The ACBI also delivered a submission to the Minister for Agriculture outlining its recommendations for ensuring safe, quality and traceable meat. It wants the State to retain the local authority abattoir sector.