Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Products: Statements.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith)

I am glad to have the opportunity to make a comprehensive statement relating to the circumstances that led to the weekend's recall of all Irish pork and bacon products and the developments since then. The focus of my statement will primarily be on the role of my Department, while my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Mary Wallace, will focus principally on the public health issues and the involvement of the Department of Health and Children and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Like the Taoiseach, I compliment various Members on their contributions on the national airwaves over the weekend regarding this issue.

The incident, which resulted in the confirmed presence of dioxins in pork fat, first came to light on Friday, 28 November, when a routine sample of pork fat, taken as part of my Department's national residue monitoring programme was shown to be positive for the presence of non-dioxin-like marker PCBs. The Department moved swiftly in response to this test result to identify the source and scale of the contamination and to contain the incident. Additional samples of pork as well as samples of feed were analysed and the original pork fat sample was sent to the Central Science Laboratory in York for further analysis for the presence of dioxins.

Having determined that the source of the contamination was a feed ingredient, library feed samples were taken from the feed manufacture's facility and the farms to which the contaminated feed was sent were traced and placed under movement restriction. Since then, farm to farm movements from these farms have been traced and a number of additional farms have now been placed under restriction.

At 3.40 p.m. on Saturday, 6 September, the Central Science Laboratory in York confirmed the presence of dioxins in the pork fat samples and the decision was taken immediately that all Irish pork products from pigs slaughtered since 1 September should be recalled. The 1 September date was chosen on the basis of the evidence available to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. In the first instance, an analysis of the dioxins demonstrated that the exposure of the pigs was recent and therefore 1 September was identified as a reasonable precautionary date. The analysis of the feed samples taken from the feed manufacturer for the presence of PCBs supported this position.

Significantly, following the publication by the Department of a press release on Thursday, 4 December confirming an investigation into the source of a contaminant in animal feed and the restriction of a number of farms, the Dutch authorities contacted the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland with regard to their own independent investigation into the presence of PCBs in pork fat samples, the origin of which they had been unable to determine, although Ireland was one of the countries from which product was sourced. These investigations indicated an increase in dioxin levels in mid-September, further strengthening the case for a 1 September date. It is important to stress that at no point was the Department responding to information provided from other member states and we were contacted only after we put information in the public domain.

The decision to have a full recall of pork and bacon was taken to reassure consumers that Irish pork and bacon products available on the market following the recall would be perfectly safe to consume. I am entirely satisfied this was the appropriate response to the confirmed presence of dioxins and I believe that it will provide the necessary reassurance to consumers as soon as Irish pork products reappear on shop shelves, which it is hoped will happen in the coming days.

The national control plan for Ireland, which is approved by the European Commission, covers all the controls in animal health and welfare, food safety and feeding stuffs controls. Under this plan, the Department operates the national residue monitoring programme and the national feed inspection programme. The national residue monitoring programme involves a risk-based sampling regime, where upwards of 30,000 samples are taken from animal tissues at farm and primary processing levels. These samples are tested for a broad range of residues including banned hormones, authorised medicines and a large number of contaminants. The feed inspection programme involves approximately 2,200 inspections per annum throughout the feed chain. The inspections cover a range of areas, including imports, mills, mineral mixture plants, retailers of animal feed as well as farms. The level of inspections carried out complies with and, in many cases, exceeds the requirements of EU legislation.

The premises from which the contaminated feed originated is one of 45 registered food business operators. Very few problems have been found in such premises previously and, as such, they are regarded as low-risk and subject to one or two inspections annually. The premises in question was inspected in 2006 and 2007 and was scheduled for an inspection in late November or December 2008, which had not yet taken place. Ireland's national residue monitoring and national feed inspection programmes are audited by the EU's Food and Veterinary Office and the most recent audit of the national feed inspection programme took place in May this year and the subsequent report reflected very favourably on Ireland's testing regime.

The Department's ongoing investigation into the source of the contamination has centred on a single food business operator and is being assisted by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Garda Síochána. The particular focus of the investigation relates to the type of fuel used in a burner which heats surplus food material for use as animal feed. This process is regarded as relatively simple. Preliminary test results on samples of the oil taken by the Department for analysis suggest that the operator may have been using an inappropriate kind of oil for this process. Further investigations are being undertaken by the EPA on the oil used.

In the meantime, the farms placed under restriction remain under restriction and no animals have been allowed to move off these farms. I am acutely conscious of the particular difficulties that the absence of any processing is causing for pig producers, many of whom I know have thousands of pigs ready for slaughter this week. The Government is particularly anxious that processing recommence as soon as possible and is particularly conscious of the impact on the thousands of workers employed at pig producing plants throughout the country as well as the many producers who are anxious to move animals for slaughter. It is in everybody's interest that slaughtering recommences quickly and that we get back into the market, restore consumer confidence and protect what is a vital element in the wider Irish agrifood sector.

To this end, the Taoiseach and I, along with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, have been engaged in constructive discussions with representatives of the processing sector and producers with a view to putting in place a financial aid package that would facilitate the early resumption of processing. These discussions are continuing and progress is being made and I remain optimistic that we can reach agreement that will ensure that slaughtering resumes this week.

I know there has been anxiety surrounding the outcome of analysis on samples taken from a representative sample of 11 of the 45 cattle herds under restriction. Preliminary results became available from my Department's central veterinary research laboratory last night and have been assessed overnight by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. The outcome of this assessment is now available and I am extremely pleased with the results.

This afternoon, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland confirmed that the results for marker PCBs are such that it is satisfied there is no public health concern. Of the 11 herds, eight were clear and the remaining three, although technically non-compliant, are not at a level to pose any public health concern. The levels found were significantly less than those found in the pigs last week. We will maintain our precautionary approach and a number of proportionate measures will be taken to provide further reassurance as follows. Any animals or herds shown to be above the proposed legal limit will be taken out of the food and feed chain. Any product from these herds will not be released into the market.

The European Commission is being informed of the results and testing of the remaining herds is continuing. The results received to date are such that the measures set out above are sufficient. On the advice of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, there will be no product recall as there was in the case of pork and bacon products. I am pleased and relieved at today's results and I have directed Bord Bia, other State agencies and our embassies worldwide to ensure this positive message is conveyed and the world-class product we have is promoted aggressively at home and abroad.

Obviously, the confirmation of the presence of dioxins in pork and today's results from the beef samples are a major disappointment for this House, the industry and our country. We have a responsibility as a Government to act to protect public health, provide consumer confidence and to safeguard a vital industry. This requires a balanced and proportionate response. I am satisfied that we have acted swiftly, decisively and responsibly. I am confident, based on the expertise and advice provided by the Department of Health and Children and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland that the actions taken do not in any way compromise public health. Rather, they will provide consumer assurance and, with the assistance of a new Bord Bia labelling system, Irish pork and bacon products will be back on the shelves quickly.

The measures we have taken are an indication of our commitment to the public health of our citizens and to the reputation of our agrifood sector. We have, at all times, acted responsibly and proportionately. I am optimistic that the negotiations with processing and producer interests will deliver an outcome that facilitates the resumption of slaughtering as a matter or urgency, in the interests of the thousands of employees, producers and processors and, not least, in the national interest.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Mary Wallace)

I welcome the reassuring confirmation given by Mr. Alan Reilly of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI, at this afternoon's press briefing that there is no risk to public health from beef. Nevertheless, consistent with the precautionary approach taken to date and to provide reassurance to consumers, the following actions are being taken: any animals in herds shown to be above the proposed legal limit will be taken out of the food and feed chain, any product from these herds will not be released onto the market and the European Commission is being informed of the results.

On Saturday, 6 December, following the confirmation of the presence of dioxins in some Irish pork products, the FSAI required the food industry to recall all such products from the market as a precautionary measure. As Minister of State with responsibility for health promotion and food safety, my priority is public health. Although the health risks for people exposed in the short term to dioxins do not provide cause for concern, the potential effects of continued high cumulative exposure over time led to the precautionary withdrawal of pork products from the market. The high levels of dioxins, between 80 and 200 times the legal limit, found in the pork products necessitated such a response.

I have been advised by both the chief medical officer, CMO, of the Department of Health and Children and the FSAI that scientific data and evidence do not support concerns on the health of people exposed to dioxins over a short period. The CMO has issued clear advice on this issue to the public and to general practitioners in correspondence. The advice is that Irish pork products produced between 1 September 2008 and 7 December should not be consumed; that any risk arising to health from the consumption of Irish pork products prior to the product recall is extremely low; that there is no need for people to seek direct medical advice; that it is not expected that the exposure in this incident will result in symptoms; and that the recall of pork products was to avoid cumulative exposure over a prolonged period which could lead to a harmful build-up of dioxin in the body.

An expert group has been convened by the FSAI to provide advice to the CMO on toxicological and medical issues. This group is also engaged in ongoing consultation with the European Food Safety Authority, the World Health Organisation and counterpart health risk assessors in the United Kingdom's Food Standards Agency. It is undertaking a risk assessment of maximum likely exposure levels and is drawing on the experience of the Belgian incident in 1999 where dioxin-contaminated feed was introduced onto chicken and pig farms. The level of dioxin found in Belgian pig fat was similar to that reported in Ireland and the duration of exposure to contaminated produce in Belgium was slightly longer. No adverse health effects have been reported in the Belgian population, with studies showing that the levels and duration of exposure were insufficient to increase the dioxin levels in the body. The expert group is meeting regularly to monitor the current situation.

To allay any public fears, the FSAI has opened an advice line, published a questions and answers sheet on its website and issued a series of press releases aimed at providing up-to-date information to both consumers and industry. The FSAI has also issued instructions to assist environmental health officers, who have been working since the weekend with retail outlets on the withdrawal of unsafe products. The Irish authorities' actions have been validated by the favourable international response. The French Agriculture Minister, Michel Barnier, has welcomed Ireland's actions, stating that we "reacted very rapidly". Ms Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Health, has expressed satisfaction with Ireland's actions and has indicated that no further action is required by the Commission. The European Commission is satisfied that Ireland has acted in a correct manner. Likewise, industry representatives have welcomed the quick response from the Government.

Analysis of the situation is ongoing. This evaluation process must be completed to ensure that all affected product is identified and restricted before post-recall product can be placed on the market. Furthermore, robust arrangements must be put in place to underpin and facilitate the release process. These steps are fundamental in terms of protecting public health and retaining consumer confidence in Irish pork products.

Notwithstanding the extremely low risk to public health, the prompt action taken by the Irish authorities in initiating a recall will ultimately protect Ireland's hard won reputation as a world class producer of safe and high-quality foods. I join with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Taoiseach in thanking all the experts for the clarity of their advice and their hard work at the weekend.

Deputy Michael Creed

Notwithstanding the enormous economic impact of the crisis in which we are currently engulfed, it is important to emphasise that it is, first and foremost, a public health issue and, thus, an issue of consumer confidence. As a lay person, I am reassured by the comments I have heard from eminent scientists, including the former chief executive of the FSAI, Dr. Patrick Wall, deputy chief executive officer of the FSAI, Mr. Alan Reilly, and Mr. Houlihan, the CMO at the Department of Health and Children. That reassurance is important to the public because therein lie the foundations on which we can rebuild confidence in the industry. Through that, we can rebuild the markets which are undoubtedly closing to us as this crisis evolves.

In the context of that expert advice, it is important that we do not hide our light under a bushel. The State, whether through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of Health and Children, the FSAI or a combination of all three, should be proactive in taking out radio and television advertisements and public press notices in an effort to reassure the public that the Irish food industry is open for business and that our products are safe. This is critical to the task of re-establishing confidence, which, in turn, is critical to the re-establishment of the pork market, of which the domestic market is a significant element.

It is inadequate merely to extrapolate from the Belgian experience and conclude, on that basis, that all is well for the Irish consumer. It is important that we have quantitative research so that we can reassure the public on that basis. Available advice indicates that it should be possible to get that quantitative research into the public domain within a short period of time and thus further add to the incremental process of confidence rebuilding that is imperative if we are to come out of this difficult economic situation.

Those who are part of the pig industry in its broadest sense, whether primary producers, processors and their many employees or those affected by the ripple effect into other food sectors, are innocent victims of this development. While a plant in County Carlow may be the source of contamination that has brought the pig industry to its knees, it is patently obvious that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, through its failure to monitor adequately this premises, has led us to this situation. It beggars belief that such a facility can, in the words of the Department, be considered "low risk" when the food chain was central to our last major food scare in the 1990s, after which a range of new regulations was introduced in 1996.

I am not interested in a blame game between the Department and the Environmental Protection Agency. Neither are producers and consumers. What they want is accountability in respect of the systems failure that gave rise to the situation in which we find ourselves.

These new regulations, coupled with previous global incidents of contamination in the food chain with PCBs, namely, the Brazilian citrus pulp crisis and the Belgian crisis of 1999, clearly point to a systems failure in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It only adds to the abject failure within the Department to state that even if this facility had been subject to greater scrutiny by the Department the appropriate test for dioxin in the food product would not have been conducted because the cost of dioxin tests is in excess of €1,000 each. It should be pointed out that no scrutiny of this facility had taken place in 2008 and there was only one visit in each of the years 2007 and 2006, notwithstanding the lessons we should have learned from the Belgian crisis and the BSE crisis about the importance of the food chain. Considering the enormous cost the State is now facing that is small change. I am conscious that the meaning of "small change" was determined on the Government benches by the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey's, reference to the €50 million cost of the e-voting machines.

The failure to detect this problem at source is compounded by the Department's subsequent failure to detect the problem on the individual farms that were supplied by this facility. These farmers are innocent victims but the farms are licensed by the Department as they need a licence to blend their own compound feed. There is a double layer of failure in the Department on this issue. I appreciate that detailed investigations are ongoing but the bodies charged with regulatory and enforcement responsibility, including the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, must answer for how a product such as PCB oils, which has been banned from production since the mid-1970s, has turned up with such devastating consequences for the Irish food industry.

Farmers in all sectors, including the pig sector, have invested enormous amounts of time and money in a traceability system that has been shown not to work in the pig sector. Otherwise, why should there be a 100% recall of product for a 10% incidence of contamination? What will be the Minister's sales pitch now to farmers across all sectors who still invest in traceability?

I note the recent announcement of the confirmation of PCBs in the beef sector. Farmers were sold the idea that if there was a crisis in the food sector, traceability would ensure it would be possible to recall, selectively, the product that is contaminated. Clearly, there is a system failure in the traceability system which will exercise the minds of the Minister and his senior officials in the days to come.

To say farmers are angry about this systems failure is a gross understatement. They are subject to the most stringent multiple unannounced inspections regime. They may not like it but they have worked with it on the basis that it safeguarded their livelihoods. Their sense of betrayal and anger is palpable. As an individual pig farmer said to me over the weekend, "This will not only finish my business, it will take my family home". The pig sector is a capital intensive enterprise operating at minimum margins and has only been in profit for four of the last 18 months. As a result of the systems failure in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, these farmers, their processors and thousands of ordinary working people face the prospect of the dole queue.

Given the recent announcement by the Minister that PCBs above the legislative limits have been confirmed in the beef sector, the decision not to recall product raises serious questions about the proportionality of the response in the pig sector. Since last Saturday, notwithstanding the decision to recall 100% of product, officials from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the Department of Health and Children and others have been at pains to reassure those who have consumed pork products that there are no negative health consequences. If that is the case, and given the decision not to recall beef products, which I support, because we are led to believe traceability is operative from farm to fork, I believe the Minister has questions to answer about his response in the pig sector. I hope there will be an opportunity to tease this out in greater detail in subsequent questions to the Minister.

The damage to our €9.2 billion food industry — accounting for 9.7% of exports and 8% of employment — and to consumer confidence at home and abroad is very significant. Any analysis of the international news spin on this issue makes clear how our competitors will use this against us. Against this background and following the budget, Bord Bia faces an 8% cut in funding. In addition, it is being asked to take on the marketing duties originally carried out by Bord Iascaigh Mhara. Time is of the essence when dealing with this issue so I am anxious to hear from the Minister, before the end of this week, if not today, details of an additional funding arrangement for Bord Bia so it can immediately begin the fight back to reclaim markets that have been closed and operations to restore confidence both at home and abroad. As I said earlier, the home market for the pork industry is very significant.

In addition, a major political and diplomatic initiative will be required, in terms of contacts at the highest levels, including ambassadorial, ministerial and heads of state, in respect of the lucrative markets that have already been closed to us. In the coming hours, intensive diplomatic manoeuvring and negotiating will also be required at EU level to ensure that market remains open to our products.

This marketing initiative is of course predicated on the processors getting back into business. I listened in anticipation last night for a conclusive statement that the Government had agreed a package with the industry that would enable it to get up and running today. Now the Taoiseach is talking about negotiations in Europe about a framework. The Minister is aware from experience in his constituency that animal welfare issues will quickly loom on individual pig farms. Pigs that were due to be slaughtered today were to be replaced in the units by store pigs, which were moving along the conveyor chain. Indeed, sows that are farrowing today are due to have their piglets moved up the line. Pig production is a continuous conveyor belt.

We need joined-up thinking. What is required is diplomatic and political action and a marketing initiative from Bord Bia. However, that will be useless if the processors are not back in business. The Taoiseach's remarks about seeking funding from Europe on this issue had all the hallmarks of a kick to touch. I wish him the best but this industry has been waiting for days to start processing, when so much hangs in the balance in respect of access to markets and employment. The processors and their employees from Cavan to Cork and all points between need to get back to work.

Another casualty in this situation is the organic and artisan food sector, which is dear to the Minister of State's heart. Farmers in that sector have had no contact with any of the product that has been contaminated but they are affected by the 100% recall of product. The proportionality of that recall is under question. Producers who had no access to or contact with contaminated product should be given immediate clearance from the Department's veterinary service to get on with their business.

A number of other issues were not addressed by the Minister. One is the appropriate manner for disposing of the enormous volume of product that will be returned to the processors. Yesterday, I called to a small artisan producer, whose cold room is already filled with produce that is now officially deemed to be waste. It is being stored side by side with product that is fit for the market. These processors are facing into the Christmas market and are desperate to get this product off their premises so they can get back to business as quickly as possible. How will that waste be dealt with appropriately? An extensive cull is required in the pig industry, covering all individual farms on which animals have been contaminated as a result of the contaminated feed. How will this cull be carried out? How will the animals be disposed of? Will incineration or rendering be used? The Minister did not provide information on this issue. To address this problem in a comprehensive manner he must close the significant information gap.

Lest Deputies forget, consumers also have rights. None of the Government's statements referred to consumers' entitlements to refunds. The initial advice given to consumers crystallised the absence of forethought and planning in the ministerial announcement on Saturday. The original advice was to dispose of all pork products. We now find, however, that consumers are entitled to a refund at the point of purchase. Consumer entitlements have been dealt with shoddily and treated as an afterthought. The disposal of the returned products and the manner in which the cull will be carried out are critical issues.

I assure the Minister and his Government colleagues that they will receive total co-operation from the Fine Gael Party in protecting the interests of the agrifood sector. We must also be assured, however, that in the days ahead the defects I have identified in respect of the Department's inspection regime will be remedied in order that we can have full confidence in its operation.

Deputy Seán Sherlock

I will share time with Deputy Willie Penrose.

I express solidarity with all pig producers in the organic and non-organic sector, craft butchers, processors and every worker who has been adversely affected by this crisis. Public health and consumer confidence must be restored immediately. This will be the indicator of the future viability of the pigmeat industry. Producers have been unfairly plunged into a crisis which is not of their making. Farms which purchased contaminated feed did so in good faith and on the basis that the product was licensed.

The pork industry is the fourth largest in the agriculture sector and is worth approximately €400 million per annum. I understand exports of pigmeat were worth €212 million in 2007. In that context, we must take cognisance of the fact that only ten of a possible 400 producers have been affected by contaminated feed. I understand the producers in question produce less than 10% of the overall kill. The minimal number of producers affected should help restore public confidence because if the figures I cite are correct, 90% of the pig kill is beyond reproach and scientific evidence will show that the risk to human health diminishes significantly.

We cannot underestimate the importance of the meat industry. Having listened carefully to the Taoiseach and Minister, I note that neither of them referred to a timeline for the return of pork to the shelves. I understood from the Taoiseach that the European Food Safety Authority must make this call from a scientific perspective. I call on the authority and European Commission to make allowance for the importance of the meat industry to this State. These institutions must act as soon as possible to ensure products are placed on the shelves again and public confidence restored. If the European Union will not provide a compensation package, at least Commissioner Kuneva and the EFSA should issue a statement within 24 to 48 hours indicating that production can commence again.

The true test of patriotism, if I may use that word, is to stand in solidarity on this issue. We should not use it to score political points off the Minister. We all know family farmers or workers in processing plants whose livelihoods depend on a viable pig and beef industry. At the same time, however, fundamental questions must be asked of the Department. I call on the Minister to act with greater urgency and to implore the European Commission to make a statement forthwith to enable the industry to start working again.

While the Government was correct to introduce a total recall of pork products, if the problem affected less than 10% of producers and 90% of pork products are thereby deemed to be safe and fit for human consumption, the Minister should have made a statement in the 24 to 48 hour period following the total recall indicating that production could recommence. He should clarify the reason this has not been done.

If the traceability system was working adequately and the one-step-up, one-step-back principle was being adhered to, it would have been possible to isolate the relevant producers and stop their production. This would have allowed other producers who never used this material to continue to provide product for the market. This issue must also be addressed.

The national feed inspection programme is a rigorous regime applied to all primary producers, whether pig or beef farmers. Everything which reaches the farm gate is subject to the most stringent inspection controls in the world. Why did the inspection process for feedstuffs fail in respect of the producer in question? The systems failure which occurred has significantly diminished the potential of the pig and pigmeat industry. The sector will take a long time to claw its way back to its previous position. I ask the Minister to address this issue.

We need to show solidarity with all the players in the industry. This is a national issue on which the Labour Party will support the Minister in every step of the process. Nevertheless, the problem must be handled with a greater sense of urgency.

Deputy Willie Penrose

I was here in the late 1990s and the early 2000s when matters of great significance and national importance, the foot and mouth disease and BSE crises, arose.It is important we are constructive, put all shoulders to the wheel and act in solidarity to ensure the pivotal role of the agricultural industries is secured. As a consumer I am reassured by what I am hearing, particularly regarding beef production. I come from the heart of the beef producing area. If anyone wants assurance, I intend to eat steak tomorrow and as a consumer myself that is the best assurance I can give.

The total recall of pork products and by-products at the weekend was of significant concern and showed that the Government acted quickly. It is now a matter of major concern to pig producers and processors, butchers and employees in factories and on farms, and also involves suppliers and hauliers. It is having significant adverse consequences across the country and affects up to 6,000 people. I know some of them. I am aware of lay-offs in Rosderra. I know the owners of that plant and went to school with some of them. There are 850 employees who have been laid off there indefinitely, and other lay-offs could bring the number under protective notice to 1,500.

They will be unemployed for a period of time unless agreement is reached between the Minister and the industry on the nature and extent of an aid and rescue package. There is an urgency to making progress in this regard. There are 6,000 jobs in the pork industry. I would be grateful if the Minister could tell me the level of progress made by the Government and his colleagues in the European Commission to try and secure a rescue package to ensure the survival of an industry which provides significant employment in rural areas. This has been done over a number of years and is being done now. It is very difficult to bring industry and jobs into a rural area and we cannot underestimate its importance.

I heard the announcement that three of the 11 herds have only twice the level of PCBs and it was reassuring. I did not realise 45 farmers were involved; I thought there were only 30. I know a significant number of farmers involved, and they were also involved in discussions on the foot and mouth disease and BSE when those crises erupted. As far as I was aware, a comprehensive traceability system was to be put in place in 2002. It was to apply across the food industry and was to be put in place with no ifs, buts or maybes. A question now arises as to how the traceability and identification system fell at the very first hurdle. It was a like a well-bred horse who comes onto a track and goes down the first time she is given a run.

I recall debating this issue in great detail. I know some of the officials and they would recognise me from some points I raised on this matter. Farmers are subject to intense and rigorous examination and inspection, some of which are on the spot and others they would be forewarned about. They are now wondering as primary producers, with all they are subject to, if a systems failure led to this situation.

As Deputies Creed and Sherlock stated, only ten out of fewer than 500 pig farmers are involved. Notwithstanding the issue of secondary processing, should it have been possible to isolate the problem and not have a countrywide shutdown because the producers cannot be identified?

I will provide the Minister with an example of the consequences of this as sometimes one picture is worth 10,000 words. I come from an area with a large pig farming enterprise. It is currently slaughtering 1,100 pigs per week and creates employment locally for 30 people, which is a small fraction of the total number of employees but is significant in a local area. Its pigs would never be fed biscuit or bread meal. All the pigs are fed a cereal-based diet, 60% of which it grows itself and the rest it sources from local farmers. All its pigs are quality assured to the highest standard in the UK and Ireland. Some €185,000 of perfectly safe pork produce is sitting in cold storage awaiting a Government decision to release it back onto the market. Every day the Government delays in supporting the processors another 250 pigs are added to the backlog of pigs for slaughter. I was told today that in a number of days animal welfare will become an issue as all its pig accommodation will be full.

Another problem is that factories require pigs within a certain weight. The farmer said to me that the longer the Government leaves Irish produce off the shelves, foreign produce has more opportunity to take its place. That is the issue. It is real life and not fiction. I am reassured by the comments of Dr. Patrick Wall whom I hold in very high regard. The priority now must be to get the system up and running again to ensure Irish produce and processed pork meats are on the shelves of retailers at home and abroad. Otherwise, as a farmer said to me, vital market share will be lost as alternative sources of pork and bacon will be obtained from European competitors. The longer it drags on the more devastating the consequences will be for the industry.

I referred to the beef industry and thankfully the news is good. There is an excellent, comprehensive and rigorous traceability system in place from the farm to the fork, and that is something we always advocated. The Minister said less than 0.2% is involved.

I wish to raise the issue of employees. I call on the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to provide additional personnel and officials to handle the large number of people who will make applications for unemployment benefit. There are already significant backlogs for people already seeking unemployment benefit. I ask the Minister to ensure, in the run-up to Christmas, that if people are still unemployed they are not left penniless. I am aware that people may not return to work immediately. I need to have that matter clarified.

Deputy Martin Ferris

I wish to share time with Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Deputy Martin Ferris

As I said in my initial reaction to the current crisis, the priority must be to limit the damage done to the sector and to protect the many livelihoods and jobs that are affected. The scale of the losses incurred by individual pig farmers and suppliers have been significant and is an issue that needs to be dealt with. We have already seen large scale temporary lay-offs and there is a likelihood that if the correct measures are not taken today further lay-offs will follow. That is why it is vital that processing and supply to shops begins again immediately.

There are approximately 7,000 people employed in the industry, including approximately 1,200 on farms, as well as other jobs in transportation and retailing. We have seen a significant proportion of the processing work force temporarily laid off and a threat of more losses. There is no reason why things should develop in that manner but it depends upon the industry picking itself up and resuming production.

The crisis over the contaminated produce could not have come at a worse time as farmers have already experienced steep falls in the prices paid to them by the factories over recent months. Unfortunately, this was attributed in some degree to the lack of domestic consumer demand for Irish pork. It will not be helped by what is currently happening and makes it all the more important that the right measures are taken, and are taken quickly, to ensure the sector gets back on track. It also highlights the need to address various issues regarding the marketing of Irish pork and the labelling of pork products.

The export market is also an important aspect of the industry and is equally affected by the current difficulties. The fact that the European Commission has not banned Irish pork is to be greatly welcomed as a ban would have had catastrophic consequences. However, it raises another issue regarding the actions that were taken here. The impact of the current crisis in overseas markets needs to be addressed. What is happening will have immediate effect, as it has had here on the availability of pigmeat, but there is potential for it to cause longer term damage if the withdrawal of Irish pork undermines overseas consumer confidence.

That is why it is essential the Government does all in its power to restore the confidence of overseas customers, and it must begin to do this immediately. An Bord Bia will have a vital role to play in this. The overseas market is crucial, as we export approximately 60% of our produce and those exports were valued at almost €400 million in 2007. There are many jobs and many livelihoods dependent on the export market alone.

Some sections of the British media have treated the issue in a manner that will not help to redress the damage done, and may cause further damage in the long term. One newspaper, infamous for its role in a number of miscarriage of justice cases, ran a sensational headline referring to toxic Irish pork, while another newspaper referred to pigs here being fed plastic bags. These are gutter headlines from the gutter press. That sort of reporting could do immeasurable damage to Irish exports to Britain, which is undoubtedly its intention, and the authorities here must ensure that this stops and that consumers in Britain are provided with the proper information, if necessary by demanding retractions in the newspapers concerned or by placing advertisements.

Another issue that must be addressed is whether the ban, the slaughter of the pigs and the withdrawal of produce from retailers was an over-reaction to the discovery of the contamination. Professor James Heffron of University College Cork, one of the leading experts in this field, stated that if the data collated by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland proves that the levels of dioxins were within the acceptable limit, then there was no reason to order the withdrawal of pork products from sale. He stated that these dioxins are in the atmosphere anyway, and if there were similar amounts likely to have been consumed in the small number of products that were sold, then no harm will have been done. From the very moment the measures were announced, people were being advised that there was no need to be too concerned and no need to seek medical advice. Therefore, there was and is no real threat to public health. On a lighter note, I am sure we all know people who had large fries on Sunday morning, in spite of the announcement that products be thrown out.

Based on previous studies into dioxin contamination, both from food and from the chemical plant explosion in Seveso, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has stated that the health risks involved are minimal and will remain so even for anybody who has consumed contaminated produce. The question therefore must be posed as to whether the withdrawal of all pig meat products was necessary, or whether something like a public health warning might have been more appropriate. We could have been told the facts as they were known on Sunday morning, the level of risk involved and that it was up to us whether we chose to consume the products affected. It should have been a judgment call, and on balance, following advice from different groups including the chief medical officer, the correct decision was taken.

We are currently experiencing a massive shock to the sector, with so many workers being laid off in the run-up to Christmas, and with farmers, butcher shops and butcher suppliers suffering losses. There is an urgent need for a financial package that takes cognisance of all the sectors that have lost out heavily.

There is also an issue with traceability. Was there a failure in the system? Instead of determining exactly which farms and which animals were contaminated and then tracing the supply line through the processors involved, the entire sector became affected. Once it was known which farms had used the feed, should it not have been possible to determine exactly where the processing of contaminated animals took place, what products resulted from this, and to which retailers or exporters they were sent? In that way we could have ring-fenced that part of the sector that is free from contamination. Were officials able to establish this? If not, why was that the case? If they were able to trace the destination of the feed and the location of the slaughter of contaminated animals, why then was it not possible to impose more limited restrictions?

One other issue which might be considered peripheral has also come to attention in the midst of this crisis. Some retailers were still selling pork products that were labelled as Irish last Sunday. They were able to do so because the actual meat was produced in other countries but it was packaged in Ireland and then labelled as Irish. That is a major flaw in the current labelling system and it needs to be addressed in the interests of promoting Irish food produce and for wider health and safety reasons.

The entire sector is going through a very difficult period. We need to work collectively to address it. The Government must be proactive in coming up with a financial package that will alleviate the terrible hardships that people are enduring, especially the producers at the lower end who are in urgent need of support.

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Pig production remains an important part of farming and processing in Cavan and Monaghan, so the Minister will know that there is great local concern about the current crisis, apart from its national implications. The crisis has already had a major impact, with 140 people put on protective notice at McCarren Meats in Cavan and a further 50 workers temporarily laid off at Feldhuesin Clones. There have also been layoffs at the Rosderra Meats plant at Stradone. There were announcements of further layoffs this morning at plants elsewhere in the country, bringing the total number of workers laid off in the sector to around 2,000.

Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal contain the main source of pigs that are sent to processors across the Border, which highlights the all-Ireland aspect of this problem. The Sinn Féin Minister in the Northern Executive, Ms Michelle Gildernew MLA, has overseen the response to the crisis in the Six Counties. We have been advised that eight beef farms were identified as having used the contaminated feed, and that the relevant restrictions were imposed on them. No pig farms in the Six Counties received supplies of the contaminated feed. According to reports today, the food safety authorities in the Six Counties are satisfied that the levels of contamination in the affected beef herds are below that which would pose any risk to human health. Therefore, there will be no need to impose restrictions there, and we have noted the same assurances here today regarding the relevant beef herds in this State.

In her contribution this afternoon, the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Wallace, stated the evaluation process needs to be completed to ensure that all affected product is identified and restricted before post-recall product can be placed on the market. We as Deputies and the wider public need answers, especially those involved in the sector. How long will this evaluation process take before we see post-recall product placed back on the market?

There are many concerns for producers, processors and those who are involved in the preparation of high added value products dependent on pork and bacon. What compensation will these groups receive? Who will pay for the significant losses that each of the groups has suffered? Who will be paid? Can the Minister give assurances that each of those groups, an integral part of the overall industry, will be fully recognised, respected and compensated? People are facing absolute ruin if there is no urgency adopted by the Government in indicating the necessary assurances that compensation will be secured, either from the EU or from ourselves if we have to stand alone on this. Many of these groups are currently distressed and in need of cash, especially in the run up to Christmas, due to the demands of creditors and a need for cashflow to sustain their businesses. Will any approach be made to the Irish financial institutions to put together a package that will address the needs of this sector during the current crisis? Access to funds at this stage is critical to the survival of many of those groups I have described. Can the Minister also note that while empty shelves are bad enough, it is probably only a matter of hours rather than days before we will see foreign pork and bacon produce on Irish shelves in supermarkets throughout this State?

Deputy Olwyn Enright

It is already there.

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

While it will be hard to try to reintroduce Irish produce to the shelves, its displacement by foreign produce will make it even more difficult. It is clear that some Irish companies will fold as a consequence of all of this. The critical objective is not just to see pork and bacon products back on the shelves, accompanied by consumer confidence and all the necessary assurances, but to ensure that Irish pork and bacon products are back on the shelves without delay.

A number of matters have been addressed, but I would like to ask about other matters that have not been covered. The House deserves to know what action will be taken against the supplier of the contaminated feed. That question was not answered in the Minister's address or that of the Minister of State, Deputy Wallace. My colleague, Deputy Ferris, has made reference to reports that inappropriate oil was used in the burning or heating process. Is it the case that plastic coverings were not removed from pans and loaves of bread that were used in the processing of animal feed? That question should be answered in the House this afternoon so there is no further uncertainty. If it is the case, what danger does it present for animals and for the consumer, who is the end user? To what extent can the Minister be certain that others in this business are not also involved in unacceptable bad practices? What steps are being taken to examine the activities of others who have the same supply role as the producer of feed in this case? I ask the Minister to make it clear in his response to Deputies that, arising from this tragic experience, he intends to ensure that from this day forward, nothing other than best practice will be accepted and the necessary inspections and guarantees etc. will be in place.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Just 40 minutes remain for the question and answer session. Sixteen Deputies have indicated they would like to ask questions. I ask them to be very brief. If I am to ensure that everybody gets to ask a question, Members will have to confine their contributions to one minute.

Deputy Michael Creed

I will be very brief. Does the Minister accept that every minute that passes while Irish produce is absent from supermarket shelves from Tokyo to San Francisco to Moscow will make it more expensive to restore such produce to overseas markets? For that reason, does the Government accept the State is culpable in the closure of these plants as a result of contamination? Is the Government prepared to pay the price to ensure processing plants reopen as quickly as possible? I remind the House no inspection has taken place at the Carlow plant to date in 2008. Are inspections organised at such plants by appointment? Farmers do not receive notice when their farms are inspected.

I would like to conclude by asking about compliance with EU regulations and possible contact from third countries. Is Ireland in compliance with all EU regulations in areas like food safety? Prior to last Saturday, did any EU member state contact the Irish authorities to express concern about PCB levels? If so, at what level did such contact take place? Did it take place at Food Safety Authority of Ireland level, at Government level, at veterinary level or at any level within the Department?

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith)

I compliment Members on their positive and constructive contributions to the debate on this important issue. I assure Deputy Creed that no member state contacted the Department or the Food Safety Authority of Ireland before Friday of last week. We issued a statement on Thursday night to indicate we had restricted farms where non-dioxin marker PCB levels had been found. It was subsequent to that — some time on Friday — that the Dutch authorities contacted us to inform us of the pattern of dioxins they had found in pork products that had gone through that country. The first publicity in regard to this potential incident was the press statement on restricted farms that was released by the Department on Thursday night.

I fully appreciate the points that have been made about the opening of the markets. As soon as this debate concludes, I will return to the Department to meet processors. The House may be aware that the Taoiseach and I met representatives of the processors, the Irish Farmers Association and individual producers in the Department at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. on Saturday evening. We discussed at length the difficulties that would arise from the decision that was about to be announced. We emphasised the need for all of us to work together to try to get processing up and running again. We shared the concern the Deputy has expressed about the "pig cycle", if one wants to call it that. We discussed the numbers that are coming down the line. We are all conscious that animal welfare issues can arise quickly in this context.

I am concerned that Deputy Creed, like Deputy Sherlock, who referred to the matter in his opening remarks, may have misunderstood the Taoiseach's comment about waiting for the European Food Safety Authority to give us clearance. That comment related to produce with a small percentage of pork, which is a different issue. The Department issued a notice to the trade on Sunday evening. We discussed the disposal problems that have been mentioned by Deputy Creed with the retailers on Sunday evening. The trade notice that was issued on Sunday evening advised those involved in this trade how they could get back into production the following day. On Sunday night——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

A series of questions will be asked. I appreciate that it is difficult to respond to them briefly.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Tuesday, 9 Dec 2008

Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Products: Statements.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Dec 2008