asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to recently expressed fears of possible salmonella poisoning arising from infected eggs; if he can identify the origins of the problem; the measures he proposes to take in the matter with a view to the protection of the industry and the public health; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Private Notice Question. - Egg and Poultry Contamination.
I am aware of reports that outbreaks of salmonella poisoning in some counties in recent times have been attributed to the consumption of infected eggs.
In response to this information the salmonella monitoring programme operated by my Department in the eggs sector has recently been intensified. No evidence has emerged which links egg consumption to outbreaks of salmonella poisoning in Ireland. There have been a number of outbreaks of salmonella in the Munster area in recent months which may be linked with the consumption of poultry meat.
My Department are endeavouring, with the co-operation of the Department of Health and the industry, to establish the source of infection. Our investigations are ongoing and further discussions with both the Department of Health and the industry are taking place. Consumers should, of course, adhere to basic hygienic practice in the treatment of poultry and egg products. In particular they should ensure that products are fully cooked.
To date the Minister of Health has issued instructions to the health services, that is the health boards, hospital and community personnel, voluntary hospitals and other health institutions such as nursing homes and homes for the mentally handicapped, outlining the potential risk to vulnerable groups such as infants, the elderly and pregnant mothers of salmonella infection from eggs. The Minister's advice indicates that vulnerable persons should not eat raw eggs or uncooked food such as home made mayonnaise or mousse and that eggs should be thoroughly cooked in any event.
I addressed this question to the Ministers for Health and Agriculture and Food. Will the Minister confirm that this virus originated in the UK where it has caused serious problems? Will the Minister indicate the measures he proposes to take, apart from those outlined, to protect the industry particularly in the run-up to Christmas and recognising the use of poultry products during that time? Will the Minister indicate if he proposes adopting any measures to allay public fears in regard to the industry and public health?
There are many varieties or strains of salmonella, more than 1,000, and to identify the particular strain at this point is not possible. I should like to assure the Deputy, the House and the public that my Department have been active in trying to trace the source of the contamination. It may come from a variety of sources, such as foodstuffs, and it may be that it will be traceable to sources outside the country. Until the source is traced, which it has not been up to now, we are in constant consultation with the Department of Health, who have responsibility in the health area, as to the precautions to be taken and the advice to be given.
We have communicated with them on the basis of what we feel would be suitable and adequate precautions to be issued, not just to institutions but to the public in certain areas, if there was any risk of outbreak. I can assure the Deputy that we are in constant contact with the industry concerned — even this very day — with a view to ensuring that the source could be isolated if possible and that the standards which would minimise the risk of infection are applied. I should like to say, a Cheann Comhairle, lest people might be unduly apprehensive, that the occurrence of salmonella in poultry meat is not unusual. There is an element of it all the time. It is a question of a particular strain at a particular stage and that is the reason we want to isolate it. People need not be totally and utterly concerned that it has actually emerged in certain areas.
May I ask the Minister further if he would confirm whether there is any correlation between this type of virus and that affecting the bovine herd in other parts of this island and whether that poses any threat to the food industry?
I have no such information. In relation to any issue of that kind I can assure the House that there is no indication that there is any linkage. As we have always done, we are taking the most stringent precautions. We are known to be a country that has the most stringent regulations to such an extent that some of our colleagues in the European Community sometimes think we use these stringent regulations to minimise the level of importation of products from their countries.
A final question from Deputy Durkan.
I fully accept the Minister's intentions in the matter. Despite the stringency of the regulations it would appear that outbreaks are spreading in Munster, for instance, right across the province. Following on that, would he be able to contain the possible infection in that area or does he expect the infection to spread.
The Deputy will appreciate that so far as the actual outbreak of samonella infection or poisoning is concerned that is a matter in the first instance, for health authorities. I do not have that immediate responsibility. In co-ordination with my colleague I want to assure the Deputy that we are doing everything possible to trace the source. We have been in constant and vigilant contact with the industry. Until such time as we can trace the source, such actions as I can take as Minister in conjunction with my colleague the Minister for Health can be effectively put in place. While any outbreak, of course, is a matter of particular concern to us in terms of human health and otherwise, what we are witnessing by contrast with what happens elsewhere from time to time is not a matter of similar seriousness. I do not want to understate the significance of it at the same time either from a human health point of view or from the point of view of control and regulation of the disease.
That disposes of questions for today.