James Leonard
Question:46 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Health his views on the increase in the number of food poisoning cases as reported in the Sunday Tribune on 20 April 1997. [11132/97]
Written Answers. - Environmental Health Officers Dispute.
James Leonard
Question:49 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, he is taking to resolve the dispute involving environmental health officers in view of reports in a Sunday newspaper on 20 April 1997, linking the dispute to an increase in the number of cases of food poisoning. [11153/97]
Limerick East): I wish to take Questions Nos. 46 and 49 together.
IMPACT, on behalf of environmental health oficers, withdrew from negotiations which were being pursued under clause 2 (iii) — Annex 1 of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work and pursued industrial action in the form of a “work-to-rule” with effect from 15 January 1996.
Efforts to resolve the impasse continued on an informal basis culminating in a formal meeting under the auspices of the Local Government Staff Negotiations Board on 25 June 1996. On Wednesday, 26 June I met personally with IMPACT and a delegation of environmental health officers to explore whether or not the provisions of the joint Government/ICTU statement of 15 May 1996 could usefully be applied to resolving the current impasse in the negotiations.
On 5 July 1996, with the assistance of a facilitator from the Labour Relations Commission, an informal meeting took place between management and the union. The meeting was of considerable assistance to both sides and, as a result, negotiations continued until quite recently when IMPACT took the decision to escalate the work-to-rule.
Following renewed contact between both sides, the Health Service Employers' Agency and IMPACT met on 26 March 1997, with a view to re-opening discussions. As a result, the threatened escalation in the work-to-rule did not tke place.
Despite the difficult and protracted nature of this dispute, I am still hopeful that a satisfactory resolution can be achieved through established procedures in the near future. The matter has been referred to the Labour Relations Commission for hearing in early May.
As regards the incidence of food poisoning, statistics published by my Department show an increase in the number of cases of food poisoning illness notified for the year to date compared to the similar period in 1996. This increase could be attributed to several factors such as improved surveillance and reporting of such illness and instances where several people were affected in a single outbreak of food poisoning.
I am very anxious to improve the level, nature and quality of the information available to me and my Department about many common illnesses and diseases. In this regard, the Deputy will recollect that I have accepted the need for a National Communicable Disease Surveillance Unit to provide a comprehensive broad based approach to the prevention of disease, including food borne disease. My Department is currently considering the organisational and structural issues involved in conjunction with the relevant agencies and professional interests and will shortly be meeting with the Food Safety Advisory Board on the matter.
Finally, I wish to assure the House of my strong commitment to food safety. As Deputies are aware, the Government has agreed to the establishment of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland which will be dedicated to ensuring compliance with the very best food safety and hygiene standards.The drafting of the necessary legislation is under way. Meanwhile, the interim board of the Authority is proceeding with putting in place the necessary structures and administrative systems to ensure the statutory Authority will be able to make a strong and immediate impact in the area of food safety and hygiene.