Vol. 498 No. 1
230 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will give details of the task force established to examine the issue of E. coli 0157; when this task force will report to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26317/98]
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has the expert advice of its scientific committee which is chaired by Professor Michael Gibney of Trinity College, Dublin. Recognising the threat to food safety posed by the emergence of E. coli 0157 the scientific committee, through its microbiology subcommittee, established a multi-disciplinary working group on E. coli 0157 in July 1998. The working group has met on a number of occasions and is presently drafting its report. It is expected that the final report will be available in February 1999.
The working group is chaired by Dr. Cliona Foley-Nolan, specialist in public health medicine in the Southern Health Board. The other members of the working group are:—
Ms Susan Bradshaw, Irish Food Processors
Dr. Bartley Cryan, Department of Medical Microbiology, Cork University Hospital
Mr. Dermot Dooge, Cork City Veterinary Officer, Cork Corporation
Dr. Geraldine Duffy, National Food Centre
Prof. John Flynn, Consultant Bacteriologist, University College Hospital, Galway
Mr. John Matthews, Irish Food Processors Limited
Mr. John Melville, Department of Agriculture and Food
Mr. Tom O'Hanlon, Department of Agriculture and Food
Mr. Martin O'Sullivan, Department of Agriculture and Food
Dr. Mary Upton, Department of Industrial Microbiology, University College, Dublin
Dr. Patrick Wall, Chief Executive, Food Safety Authority of Ireland
Dr. Noel McCarthy, Public Health Specialist, Food Safety Authority of Ireland
Mr. Raymond Ellard, Food Safety Authority of Ireland
