Written Answers. - Fishing Industry.
Michael Finucane
Ceist:
75
Mr. Finucane
asked the
Minister for the Marine
and Natural Resources the reason the French authorities delayed by three months the announcement of alleged illness problems associated with Irish processed shellfish which has locked up £1.5 million worth of shellfish.
[14377/99]
Michael Finucane
Ceist:
76
Mr. Finucane
asked the
Minister for the Marine
and Natural Resources if the French authorities have sent any epidemiological or other report regarding the two incidents of sickness attributed to Irish shellfish harvested between June and September 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14378/99]
Michael Finucane
Ceist:
77
Mr. Finucane
asked the
Minister for the Marine
and Natural Resources when the Marine Institute will clear the 500 tonnes of healthy shellfish stock held up in French cold stores since January 1999; and if his attention has been drawn to the concern that the product will be out of date and rendered unusable due to the delay of his Department in taking swift action.
[14379/99]
Michael Finucane
Ceist:
78
Mr. Finucane
asked the
Minister for the Marine
and Natural Resources if the State is liable for the losses incurred by shellfish processors in view of the fact all of the stock harvested during June to September 1998 was monitored and cleared by the State's national biotoxin monitoring programme.
[14380/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 76, 77 and 78 together.
In January of this year the French authorities instituted a health alert arising from two alleged outbreaks of illness in September 1998 in which the symptoms were reported as being consistent with those caused by diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP). The French authorities reported that the alleged incidents were associated with the. consumption of mussels exported from Ireland, and indicated also that a number of positive results had been obtained from testing of Irish product for DSP.
My Department, in association with other relevant State agencies, followed up immediately on the alleged incidents with the French authorities and the European Commission, with a view to establishing conclusively the association, if any, of Irish product with the alleged outbreaks of food poisoning. Despite numerous requests, in EU fora and in direct communications with the French authorities, the French authorities have not to date furnished any epidemiological reports on the events of September 1998. It is vitally important for the Irish authorities to have this information, and the matter will continue to be pursued vigorously with the French authorities.
Following the alleged incidents in France, and as a precautionary measure in accordance with normal practice, frozen Irish mussels produced between June and September, 1998 were temporarily withdrawn from the market. I understand that the amount of product held, primarily in Ireland and France, was some 600 tonnes. Irish mussel exports in live or processed form were not affected.
As a result of an inter-calibration exercise between Irish and French laboratories conducted by the EU reference laboratory in Vigo, Spain, it was agreed that batches of the withheld product would be released where the Irish reference lab or an approved French laboratory obtained five negative results in testing for DSP. This testing process is under way, and I understand that more than 100 tonnes have been released to date. The Irish authorities will press for sampling of the remaining stocks to be completed as quickly as possible, so that decisions on its release can be made without delay.
My Department has given considerable time and attention to dealing with this matter and there has been no delay in responding to the situation.
It is not accepted that any liability attaches to the State arising out of, or in connection with, this matter.
