To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now instigate an inquiry into the production of animal feed.

I am considering the recommendation of the Select Committee on Agriculture that such an inquiry should be undertaken.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has of the prevalence of the practice of feeding chicken manure to (a) cattle, (b) pigs and (c) poultry; what is his policy in respect of this practice; and if he will make a statement.

As far as I am aware, chicken manure is not fed direct to animals and ensiled poultry litter is fed only to cattle. Free-range chickens may of course naturally eat their own and other chicken's droppings.Anyone ensiling such material is subject to the provisions of the Processed Animal Protein Order 1989 which requires registration with the Department and microbiological testing of the end product. Regular checks on the ensiling process are carried out by the state veterinary service.