Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Feb 1997

Vol. 475 No. 2

Written Answers. - Food Safety Authority.

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

57 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will give details regarding the aims and objectives of the food advisory board and the history of its establishment; if the board is currently functioning; if so, from where it operates; when it will be put on a legislative basis; the number of staff it employs; the procedures, if any, which are in place and will be put in place in relation to the recruitment of staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4573/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The establishment of a new statutory based food safety board with executive powers was one of the principal recommendations of the interdepartmental group on food safety controls established by the Government last March. The Deputy will be aware this recommendation was accepted by the Government in October and the processing of the legislation is now at an advanced stage in my Department.

Because the introduction of the necessary legislation would take some time, it was decided that the new body — to be known as the Food Safety Authority of Ireland — should be immediately established on an interim non-statutory basis. On 6 November, I announced the membership of the interim board of the authority which is being chaired by Dr. Daniel O'Hare. The interim board is charged with establishing the structures and formulating the work programme for the new statutory body in order that some of the ground work will have been completed when the statutory body commences to operate.

The purpose of the new authority is to ensure that the highest standards of food safety and hygiene are observed and that the regulations and controls are properly enforced by the various State agencies. To this end, I propose that the authority will have four main functions.

To identify and, where necessary, supplement, the legally binding standards and criteria relevant to food safety and hygiene and have these published and recognised as enforceable by the authority; to carry out audits to determine the effectiveness of the food control systems operated by the official agencies with primary responsibility in the relevant area and assess the level of enforcement and compliance with these controls. The authority will publish reports of such audits and inspections; to carry out a range of other functions relating to data collection, research and coordination of services, and to subsume the role and functions of the current Food Safety Advisory Board and, as such, act as a major source of advice to myself and other Ministers on food safety and other matters relating to food.

To carry out these functions and, in particular, its audits and inspections, the authority and its staff will be given extensive powers, including power of entry, power to take samples and seize documentation as well as power to close premises and to order the withdrawal of products. The authority will also have extensive powers of prosecution both in relation to deficiencies which it identifies during its audits and for obstruction in the carrying out of its duties.

These comprehensive proposals will meet the demands for a body sufficiently independent and powerful to verify the standards of good practice throughout the food industry in the areas of food safety and hygiene. As framed, the proposals allow for maximum flexibility and ensures, within the precepts of public accountability, that the authority will be independent in the discharge of its functions.

Therefore, as is the case in the semi-State sector generally, day-to-day matters relating to the recruitment and employment of staff by the Food Safety Authority will be an executive function of that body and not a matter in which I, as Minister, have a direct function. However, the legislation being drafted by my Department provides that the authority will have a complement of staff — technical, professional and administrative — reflecting the range of disciplines relevant to the areas in which the authority has competence. The authority will also have the capacity to engage consultants and-or contract out work, if appropriate.

A permanent premises has not yet been acquired for the Food Safety Authority. As regards the taking on of staff, I understand that the interim board has recruited two staff on a temporary, contract basis: a part-time acting chief executive and a secretary. The post of full-time chief executive of the authority has been advertised by the interim board in the news media and interviews for the position have taken place. The authority will undertake recruitment to other positions at a later date.