It is difficult to think of a subject that has more direct relevance to every member of the public than the safety of the food they eat. It is, therefore, understandable that anything which endangers the safety of their food or which interferes with their confidence in and enjoyment of their food must be taken seriously.
My Department has, from its inception, recognised its responsibility in this area and based its regulations on the basic concept that only food fit for human consumption should be placed on the market for sale to consumers. This philosophy of consumer protection continues to guide the Department and the eight health boards who enforce the various regulations. I am also conscious of the role a supply of good, safe food plays in the overall health of the population. My Department invests heavily in promoting the importance of a good, balanced diet. It does so from a well grounded recognition that the achievement of a balanced diet, together with other lifestyle issues, is one of the most significant aspects of our preventive health care strategy. Food safety, in its widest sense, is, therefore, first and foremost a public health issue.
I have no doubt that there is a considerable degree of confusion among consumers about food and related issues. This is a reflection of unease about many modern day production and processing practices. The BSE crisis has highlighted these concerns in a very dramatic way. There is also an ongoing level of concern about many of the chemicals used throughout the food chain, from the fertilisers used to promote growth to the preservatives used to prolong the shelf life of products.
Many of us share consumers' concerns, but it is important to point out that, for the most part, food is safer now than at any time in history. The standards of hygiene and general control applied to, for example, our water supply are greater than at any time in the past. This is also true of the vast majority of food production and processing establishments. However, the consumer is sceptical and we must recognise that this scepticism is, in some instances, well founded. We must deal with it in a number of ways. In the first instance, we must ensure that our law and regulations on food are kept up to date and, more importantly, enforced properly and effectively. Equally, it is critical to consumers' confidence that they are satisfied about the effectiveness of the controls. It is clearly not enough to enforce the controls; we must be seen to do so.
When I say "we", I do not mean just the authorities answerable to the Department of Health, or other Departments. It must be clearly stated that everyone involved in the production and processing of food has a responsibility in this regard. I include in that farmers and fishermen, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and caterers and any other party with responsibility for the handling of food. Apart from the fact that it is in their interest to observe the highest standards, they have a clear duty and responsibility to discharge honourably their role in the protection of the public's health.
I drew attention earlier to the need for a well balanced view about the current state of food safety. I also wish to emphasise that I am satisfied that the great majority of producers and processors and others involved in the industry meet their responsibilities. I am clear about the different criteria to be satisfied when considering food safety. I indicated that the public health aspects take top priority but more general concerns about consumer protection and confidence are also considered as major issues. Many aspects of these criteria are inter-related and this is also true when considering the economic and financial importance of the issue, especially for people in Ireland.
We are blessed with an environment that is still among the cleanest in Europe. This, together with the natural advantages conferred on us by climate and soil, make Ireland one of the most favoured places in Europe for the production of clean, safe food. As a nation, it would be unforgivable if we failed to take full advantage of these natural assets and it would be madness in the extreme if, for some ill-conceived idea of short sighted gain, we were to endanger the opportunities nature and years of hard work by all involved have provided.
Our food industry is, without doubt, one of our great natural assets. It is the responsibility of Government and industry to ensure we maximise the benefits and do nothing to endanger its potential. It is against this background that the Government, in March this year, instituted a comprehensive review of food safety. The review was carried out by an interdepartmental group of senior officials. It focused on the control regimes involved and made many useful observations and recommendations. It confirmed that high standards apply in almost all cases and that this is verified by probing reviews and analysis conducted not only by the EU but also by authorities in major markets, such as Japan and the USA.
In many instances, Ireland is among few European states whose beef and other products are allowed access to those rigorously controlled markets. We can draw considerable comfort and satisfaction from that, but we cannot be complacent. The Government recognised its obligations to the consumers of our food, as well as the long-term value and potential of our food industry, particularly the importance of retaining public confidence in it, and this is why it accepted the recommendations of the review group.
The group recommended the reorganisation of controls for certain specific products to ensure a clearer line of authority. This will ensure better, more efficient controls in those areas. Most importantly, the group recommended that a new body should be established which, in the first instance, could satisfy itself on the basis of full scale audits about the manner and extent of the control regimes operated by the various official agencies and, secondly, which could communicate that information to consumers. As a result, Members will be aware of the Government's decision to establish the Food Safety Board of Ireland.
The Minister for Health expects to introduce legislation early in 1997 for the establishment of the board but at this stage I would like to set out for Members some important and essential aspects of the board and its remit. It will be established on the basis of its own primary legislation. The House will appreciate that this represents the strongest possible commitment by the Government to the question of food safety. The board will come under the aegis of the Minister for Health, thereby placing it firmly in the public health area but it will be given the maximum degree of independence possible in its operation. That is vitally important and will add credibility and authority to its pronouncements.
It will have a wide and comprehensive range of legal powers. It will, for example, be able to establish standards for the hygiene and safety of food in areas where none currently exist, thereby ensuring that safety standards are not compromised by outdated legislation. It will have all the powers necessary for the conduct of its audits of other agencies, including powers to enter premises, seize goods, see and, where necessary, seize records. It will be given powers to prosecute agencies which are not discharging their obligations and it will also have powers to prosecute operators or outlets failing to comply with legal standards.
The board will also be required to publish reports of its audits. I consider this to be of central importance and when taken together with the degree of independence it will have and the range of powers available to it, I am satisfied its reports will quickly become major and authoritative statements on the status of Irish food. It is also my view that regardless of any other organisational or structural changes undertaken now or in the future in the food control regime in Ireland, the board as envisaged will serve an essential, long-term function as an independent and powerful assessor of our food safety standards. It is no longer sufficient that the regulators should assess themselves, we need an independent and credible body to provide the reassurance demanded by our consumers.
I am convinced the establishment of the new board represents a radical and innovative step in the development of our food controls and, to underline the Government's commitment to this subject, the Minister for Health has already established an interim board. It has already met and is engaged in drawing up work plans. I look forward to this interim board coming forward with ideas and suggestions which, I hope, we will be able to incorporate into the new legislation. I am confident we have emerged from recent difficulties with a better understanding of the need for total transparency in relation to food safety and the new board will be a strong and powerful vehicle to deliver it.
