asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he intends to make public the results of his Department's animal feed analysis.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Animal Feed Analysis.
8.
I am at present considering the possibility of publishing on an annual basis, the results of laboratory tests carried out on animal feeding stuffs samples taken by my Department to determine their analytical composition.
I welcome that news. The farmer is being ripped off, not only by the co-operatives but by the private compounders. There is little point in having a monitoring team unless the results are to be made public. Also, could the Minister have more regular spot checks on animal foodstuffs and compounds?
We are stepping up the nature and extent of the checks being undertaken, but I want to remind the Deputy that to achieve what he and I would wish, namely the adherence to standards, there are certain legal constraints with regard to the publication of results from individual firms and I would not like the Deputy to misunderstand what I said about publication in that case. It is important to protect the legal possibility because that route can then be taken and has in fact been implemented a number of times recently. However the law officers have advised me that there may be problems if matters are published in advance in respect of individual firms as distinct from general publication of the nature and extent of the results of the survey.
In view of what the Minister has said, are there problems of a comparative nature in having these tests carried out in different laboratories and is there anyone qualified in the Minister's Department to do such analysis for the country?
Yes, the samples are taken by officers from my Department but they are analysed at the State laboratory to see if the guaranteed analysis as shown by the manufacturer on the label of the ration is correct. I think that is how it should be done. It is very effective and, as I have indicated to the Deputy, certain legal proceedings have already been launched and I am quite satisfied that other proceedings will be taken where appropriate.
May I ask the Minister when he will enforce the regulation in relation to declaration of ingredients on animal feeds and why there is an undue delay in the implementation of the regulation? I think his own officials should not shelter behind threatening litigation any longer but should get out and implement it.
It is a convention of the House that no blame be attached to officials. The Minister is responsible and answerable to the House.
The Minister should not shelter under the threat of litigation.
On behalf of all those officials, I want to assure the Deputy that I am not doing that, now or ever.
That is incorrect.
Now, the reply to No. 9: adequate administrative arrangements are in place——
You are not implementing the regulations on the declaration of ingredients.
They are being implemented and the Deputy will see that.
Why do you not implement the regulations on the declaration of ingredients?
A Deputy
A Cheann Comhairle, did you call Question No. 9?
I do not like interrupting a lady.
That will not answer a difficult question.
I do not like interrupting ladies, but when the lady is finished——
Could the Minister answer my question?
Was Question No. 9 taken with another question?
(Interruptions.)
Order, please. I am arbitrating on the matter. May I take it that Question No. 9 has not been answered previously with another question?
It has not been answered.
A brief supplementary, Deputy Doyle.
Deputy Durkan rose.
I am sorry Deputy Durkan but I want to get on to other questions.
I had already indicated that I wanted to speak.
That may be so, Deputy——
The question was not called.
May I ask the Minister why the regulation in relation to the declaration of ingredients has not been implemented to date and whether he will ensure that it is implemented immediately?
The answer to the second part of the Deputy's question is yes. If it has not been implemented to date as effectively as I would wish that is precisely what I am determined to achieve now. The inadequacy of the implementation of regulations over the years is not all a matter of my responsibility.
I now call Deputy Durkan.
Would the Minister agree that in view of the disease free status the Irish meat and dairy industry enjoy abroad, it is absolutely essential that the highest possible standards prevail with regard to the examination of feed imports?
Absolutely.
If it does not apply, our disease free status and our standing abroad will suffer greatly.
I agree entirely with the Deputy. It is because we have such a unique disease free status abroad, something that is recognised by our colleagues in the European Community, that I am determined, as the Deputies are, that we adhere to the most diligent and restrictive standards.