Deputy De Rossa has been given permission to put a Private Notice Question to the Minister for Health.
Private Notice Question. - Dublin Sweet Factory.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that a sweet factory in Foley Street, Dublin, has been convicted of serious breaches of the hygiene regulations; that evidence was given in court of the discovery of food poisoning organisms in samples taken from the factory; that the justice in convicting the firm involved recommended the closure of the factory; if the Minister will indicate what steps he intends to take to protect consumers from this firm, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am fully aware of the circumstances of this case. The provisions of the Food Hygiene Regulations, 1950, have been fully applied by the Eastern Health Board and they are maintaining constant surveillance of the premises which are currently closed. The regulations provide that these premises must be registered by the Eastern Health Board if they are to operate as a food business. The health board refused an application for registration on 10 October 1983. Should the proprietors seek to re-open, they will be in further breach of the regulations and will be liable to the penalties provided: these include fines as well as imprisonment of up to six months.
Has the closure taken place as a result of an order by the Minister or was it a voluntary closure? Does the Minister consider that the powers under the regulations are adequate to protect consumers in this situation?
The condition of the premises, known as Irish Sweets Limited, 17-23 Foley Street, Dublin 1, has been a matter of great concern to the Eastern Health Board for some time. Contaminated products were seized by the board — these products had rat droppings and various other organisms, cigarette butts and so on — were destroyed by them and court proceedings were instigated against Mr. Nolan. He applied to the Eastern Health Board for registration but was refused on 10 October. He did not appeal the health board's decision and the prosecutions were heard in the Dublin District Court on 27 April. The proprietor admitted to the summons and was fined £1,700. I have ample powers under section 34 to insist on the closure of these premises in the event of their re-opening.
Can I take it that the present closure is voluntary and that the Minister has not exercised his powers to ensure that the firm does not re-open in its present condition? Have any steps been taken to ensure that no products of this firm are at present in shops in the Dublin area or any other part of the country? Would he consider placing an advertisement in the newspapers warning traders and the public about these products?
The factory premises were precluded from operations as they were not registered. I am not in a position to close a factory which was never opened. In the event of this factory being re-opened I have ample powers, and the Eastern Health Board have been keeping the closest scrutiny on the area. Where products have been seized they have been destroyed. I am sure the chief health inspector of the health board will keep the matter under the closest observation and will act accordingly.
Could the Minister give the shopkeepers the names of these products and say the type of packaging used because nowadays sweets are not very well packaged and it would be very difficult to identify whether they came from this factory. As Deputy De Rossa suggested, would the Minister run an advertisement in the newspapers alerting shopkeepers, particularly small shopkeepers, who are still selling these products?
The persons involved have been operating a number of companies under different names — Circle Snacks Limited, Universal Candies, Irish Snack Foods Limited — and the health board have been in the closest touch with the Nolan family on this question. They have advised every possible outlet of the dangers and I am in touch with Mr. Con Healy, the chief health inspector, on the matter.
A final supplementary from Deputy De Rossa.
Press reports indicate that food poisoning organisms were found in the samples which were destroyed. This factory seems to have been in operation at least since October 1983.
A question, please.
It is reasonable to assume that some products of this factory are still in the shops and, because of the nature of the products, will be sold to children. Can the Minister give some assurance that the public and the shopkeepers concerned will be warned of these products so that the public can avoid buying them and the shopkeepers who have these products can destroy them? Can he do that by way of advertisement or other appropriate means?
There has been widespread publicity about this company, Irish Sweets Limited. The health board have taken action and the premises are under full surveillance. Any products which could be obtained were seized and destroyed and any further action needed will be taken. I can assure the Deputy that I have kept in very close contact with the health inspector about this matter and if newspaper advertisements are required, I will have them inserted. Meanwhile, the health board have the responsibility to implement the food hygiene regulations, not my Department, and the health inspectors are keeping in close contact with me.
I put down a Private Notice Question to the Minister for Justice arising from the disclosure of British undercover activities in the Republic set out in an article of 4 May in The New Statesman.
That question came before me and was ruled out of order and the reasons were conveyed to the Deputy.
You can appreciate that this is a matter of considerable urgency because it is alleged——
I have adjudicated fairly on this question and I cannot allow a discussion on it.
This question is to the Minister for Justice. Is he not going to answer any of these questions because they will not come up for quite some time?
The question would have been to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, if it had been allowed.
These questions will not come up for some time yet.
If the Deputy wishes to see me we will discuss it, but I will not allow a wrangle about it in the House. Order of Business.
They are very serious allegations of undercover activities in the Republic——
The Deputy is bound by Standing Orders just as I am.