Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 3

Written Answers. - Food-borne Diseases.

Pat Upton

Ceist:

142 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health the reason no relevant information was provided by his Department in relation to food borne diseases for each of the years from 1990 to 1992 on either statutorily notified cases of food borne diseases or epidemiologically investigated food borne outbreaks for inclusion in the sixth report 1990 to 1992 for the WHO surveillance programme for control of food borne infections and intoxications in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6583/96]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr. O'Shea)

I recognise that heretofore the returns from Ireland to the WHO in relation to food-borne diseases have not been as comprehensive as would have been desired. This is despite the fact that information is collected on an ongoing basis.

However, I assure the Deputy that with the assistance of the Food Safety Advisory Board, it is my intention that more complete information is supplied in future.