Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and the officials from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland for their presentations. I welcome the fact that the Minister and his officials obliged me when I requested a meeting with them. I thank him for that. The meeting was very helpful in our examination of this matter.

Food processors carry out regular tests themselves. Is the Department privy to the results of these tests? Has it been notified of any tests carried out by the processors? If so, was there any indication of contamination in any of the ingredients?

Can the Minister confirm that Silvercrest bought meat ingredients directly from Poland? Was it a victim of fraud or did it buy the product knowing it was horsemeat? How confident are the Minister and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland that the contaminated ingredient originated in Poland? From the report today and the report I got previously, it was traced to a company in Poland. Is there any connection between the said company and the owners or directors of the processors in this country? I understand from the Minister's presentation that he is in contact with his counterparts on the other side of our island, across the Border. Has any evidence come to light of contamination there and on sources of allegations of contamination? Have there been any dealings between a third party and Silvercrest or any other company in regard to ingredients for fillers for burgers?

What is the connection between Rangeland and Silvercrest? Is there any connection through ownership or is there any connection between senior members of either company? In his presentation, the Minister was very critical of the way Silvercrest was run by its management and so forth. Is he satisfied that the management was implementing its own policy in regard to what was happening, or was it getting instructions to that effect?