I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 60 and 73 together.
I am concerned at the findings of the recent publication of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland's "Update on Ongoing Audit of Compliance with the SRM (Specified Risk Material) Regulations at Irish Meat Premises (January 2001)". As part of this audit of 278 premises, which included domestic and export approved abattoirs as well as butcher outlets, the FSAI found 29 premises, approximately 10 per cent, to be non-compliant. Some 27 were domestic abattoirs under supervision of local authorities and two were export abattoirs under supervision of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Both inspectorates now operate under service contracts with the FSAI.
In general because of the high throughput of carcases there is a permanent veterinary presence at export approved abattoirs. In the local authority abattoirs, throughput is generally smaller and there is not a permanent presence in these premises; inspection comprises ante and post-mortem examination by a veterinary inspector.
The FSAI noted that 96 per cent of the animals slaughtered at the domestic abattoirs were under 36 months of age. Legislative controls on feeding meat and bone meal to cattle in Ireland were stringent by 1996-early 1997, therefore these animals would not have had access to contaminated meat and bone meal. However, the removal of SRM from all animals over 12 months is an EU requirement and 100 per cent compliance is required in all abattoirs.
The FSAI is the statutory agency responsible for the enforcement of all food safety legislation. It executes its functions by means of service contracts with the various official agencies which traditionally had primary responsibility, such as the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, health boards and local authorities, in the case of meat inspection.
One of the FSAI's functions is the audit of inspection arrangements and the recent audit of abattoirs was carried out as part of its wider food safety brief. This audit is ongoing to ensure compliance with SRM legislation and the FSAI intends to issue updates on a quarterly basis. It is precisely this type of exercise that the FSAI will be using to ensure that Ireland's food safety controls are adequate. My Department has provided an additional sum of £100,000 to the Authority in 2001 for the enhancement of its audit function. This was a recommendation of the recent report.