Vol. 452 No. 8
70 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry in view of the abolition of the Office of Food at his Department, the steps, if any, he intends to take to protect the consumer's right to food which is safe to eat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8656/95]
I would refer the Deputy to a reply I gave in February to a similar question where I pointed out that there has been no diminution of ministerial responsibility for food. The present position is that my colleague Minister Deenihan and myself share responsibility for food and this includes the protection of the consumer's right to food which is safe to eat.
In my Department there is a comprehensive legally based system which has been designed to ensure that the production and processing of farm products for food is carried out to the standard necessary to protect public health. In the application of that system extensive checks are carried out at both farm and factory level and anyone contravening it is dealt with appropriately.
