Desmond J. O'Malley
Question:18 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, he has to put the recently established Food Safety Board on a statutory basis. [23376/96]
Written Answers. - Food Safety Board.
Limerick East): The establishment of a new statutory-based Food Safety Board with executive powers was one of the principal recommendations of the interdepartmental group on food safety controls which was established by the Government in March.
The Deputy will be aware that this recommendation was accepted by the Government in October. Because the introduction of the necessary legislation will take some time, it was decided that the new body should be immediately established on an interim non-statutory basis. This has already been done and, on 6 November, I announced the membership of the interim board which is being chaired by Dr. Daniel O'Hare.
I can assure the Deputy that I am firmly committed to the establishment of a new executive Food Safety Board on a statutory basis as I announced following the Government decision. I intend to bring the legislation before the Oireachtas at the earliest possible date in 1997. The establishment, on an interim basis, of the current non-statutory body does not detract from my resolve in this regard. Rather, it underlines my own and the Government's commitment to the establishment of a body which will provide the reassurance, based on sound knowledge and information, which the consumer requires.