Seán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the food safety authority on its investigation and carrying out the initial DNA tests. I also compliment the Minister. I have had discussions with people who work in the industry. I live beside the Silvercrest plant and a few miles from the Rangeland plant so I am greatly concerned about protecting the jobs and local economy. Obviously I want to also protect farmers, their beef products and the Irish food processing industry. The Minister and the FSAI have been proactive and responsible in carrying out tests.

If we do not get co-operation from the Polish authorities will the Minister go to the Commission and the Council of Ministers to seek the introduction of DNA testing as the industry norm across Europe? I have heard many people talk in irresponsible terms. I heard one member mention the term continuous and pervasive industry practice but we have no evidence of that. It is irresponsible to lay that at the door of Silvercrest. An issue arose and the product was tested. I understand that a solution has been found by the Department in terms of rigorous testing in the facility on a weekly basis, a deep cleaning of the facility, a change of management structure, and ensuring that only Irish and British beef is used at the facility. The Silvercrest plant is now the safest plant in the world, it is certainly the safest plant in Europe.

People have talked about the safety of eating horsemeat but eating horsemeat is a cultural norm across Europe and it is not unsafe. The FSAI tests on 19 December found that there was no evidence of bute or any chemical in the horsemeat. Therefore, it is not a food safety issue. It is a food labelling issue. We need to ensure that food safety is of paramount importance.

In terms of the Rangeland product, the company approached the Department to ensure that tests were carried out. We must be responsible when debating the issue because livelihoods are at risk if we cannot ensure that contracts will be maintained. I compliment the Minister on what he has done so far in terms of talking to the multiples and the farmers concerned. I want him to make sure that whatever has to be done will be done at departmental level to ensure that there is consumer confidence in the products produced by these facilities. The multiples must also have confidence in the product and a scenario like this can never happen again.

If the Polish authorities do not co-operate then I ask the Minister to seek to introduce DNA testing as the norm across Europe. I do not blame the authorities in Ireland because regularly testing DNA is not standard anywhere in Europe. That is my understanding. DNA testing is a new test that was introduced in Ireland because we are proactive when it comes to ensuring that food is safe and traceable. To ensure that there is accurate food labelling we need to insist that DNA testing is introduced as the norm, thus assuring consumers that when they buy a product which states that it is 100% Irish or British beef then that is what they get. Consumers need to be reassured that burger content is not a safety issue. There was no evidence of bute or any other chemicals found in any of the burgers tested. There has been a lot of scaremongering about the food safety of the product. It is not a safety issue but a labelling one and we must continue to stress that.

A number of measures have been put in place to deal with the issue. Can the Minister inform us what else can be done to get the multiples back on board in order to retain jobs and protect the local economy?