Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

The environmental health officers, who work for the HSE, are contracted by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to carry out inspections in the food service sector. Their primary role is in the area of hygiene, safety, health and risk assessment. Implementing the new regulations is an additional duty for them. The Department of Agriculture and Food has a contract with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to carry out the relevant inspection duties. The authority has a contract with the HSE, which carries out that work.

There has been much media coverage of the labelling of beef in restaurants and catering establishments. A recent survey indicated that 70% of restaurants were not complying with the regulations. Another survey indicated that 30% of restaurants were not complying. I am sure if Deputy Naughten applied that margin of error to last weekend's opinion poll, he would be happy, from his party's point of view.

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