asked the Minister for Health if he will request the Food Advisory Committee to bring forward their report to an earlier date to enable him to act immediately to control the level of antibiotics in milk and all food for human consumption.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Antibiotics in Food.
10.
I have asked the Food Advisory Committee to expedite the submission of their report on Antibiotic Residues in Food. I expect to have the report in the very near future.
How soon will the Minister be in a position to introduce the necessary legislation or regulations?
I have no doubt that the recommendations in the report will be more wide-ranging than the one in which I was involved in 1971. It will advise controls on the quality, safety, efficacy, labelling and use of individual antibiotic labels and propose prescription control for all antibiotics. I am giving an advance indication of the recommendations I expect to receive. I will have to consult with the Department of Agriculture. I assure the Deputy that I will take immediate action.
Is the Minister satisfied that legislation is the proper way to control this? If people have not got commonsense how will legislation enforce a solution?
I have statutory duties to discharge and I will do so.
This gives me an opportunity to ask the question which I was unable to get in on when Deputy Taylor also failed to get in. Has the Minister any report which gives him an idea of the effect on human beings of the level of contamination by antibiotics in dairy products? I have a very personal interest in this because I am a very high consumer of dairy products such as my pinta, I like my toast swimming in butter and I like big hunks of cheese at times. Therefore, I believe it would have a greater effect on me than on many other Deputies. How do I know what effect it is having on me? Can the Minister say generally what effect it is having on people?
Does the Deputy have smoked salmon on his toast?
Far be it from me to suggest that I know what the cholesterol political level of The Workers Party is.
The remaining questions will appear on next Tuesday's Order Paper. Deputy Brendan McGahon has been given permission to ask a Private Notice Question from the Minister for Justice.