Vol. 478 No. 7
210 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the measures, if any, he has taken and the proposals, if any, he has to maintain and improve consumer confidence in Irish food; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11969/97]
The control and enforcement of food safety is central to maintaining consumer confidence. Ireland has an extensive framework of legislation in place and my Department alone implements some 62 separate pieces of legislation dealing with food safety and quality. Over 1,750 administrative, professional and technical staff have control functions under legislation which encompass meat inspections, veterinary medicines, zoonotic diseases, beef classification, pesticide control and the application of quality standards in the dairy produce, poultry and eggs, fruit and vegetables and animal feed areas. In addition over 200 professional and technical staff are engaged in related activities at the Department's various laboratories.
In future the Food Safety Authority of Ireland will have responsibility for auditing these inspection arrangments and this will provide a further level of assurance to the consumer.
