Mr. David Lynch:

The Food and Veterinary Office, which is an arm of the Commission, is headquartered in Grange, County Meath. Approximately two thirds of its inspections now take place outside the community. Its personnel spend a certain amount of time in each member state, and they are in Ireland at present and we must meet them tomorrow on a particular issue, but they also carry out a huge number of missions in those countries which want to send their produce into the community. Its remit is to be satisfied there are equivalent standards, not necessarily the same word for word but at least equivalent so people in the community are not put at risk by products coming in. Much effort is put into trying to ensure this is the case. People will argue whether it is or not.