Michael Ferris
Ceist:150 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his Department have calculated the losses to Irish growers of cucumbers following the recent health scare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Losses to Growers of Cucumbers.
My officials and those of the Department of Health have of course kept in close touch with the situation during and after the recent incident concerning cucumbers. I am glad that they found it possible to clear for consumption most of this country's production of cucumbers after a short period of investigation and action, and that the cucumber market is now steadily improving.
My Department are currently reviewing a number of aspects arising from the incident, such as the resources required for dealing with any similar incidents in the future, and the matter of losses sustained is being included in this review; it is not possible at this juncture to quantify such losses definitively.