Vol. 483 No. 2
54 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will establish the statutory, independent, science-based Food Safety Authority promised in An Action Programme for the Millennium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15404/97]
56 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of times the Food Safety Authority has met to date in 1997; the dates of these meetings; the number of inspections carried out by the Authority of control agencies involved in the food industry; when a report will be published on the audits and inspections carried out by the Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19857/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 56 together.
The interim Food Safety Authority of Ireland, which was established on 7 November 1996 on a non-statutory basis by the previous Government, has met on 12 occasions on the dates set out in the following table. The role of the interim Authority was solely to put in place the necessary administrative structures in advance of the appropriate legislation being enacted. A much wider remit for such an Authority is envisaged by this Government which has now decided to bring forward a Bill setting up the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to honour the commitment given in An Action Programme for the Millennium.
The Authority will be independent and science-based and will take over the functions relating to food safety currently discharged by other State agencies and Government Departments.
I intend to outline the proposed contents of the new Bill to the Government before the end of the year with the aim of introducing it to the Oireachtas during its next session.
Dates of Meetings of Interim Food Safety Authority of Ireland
