Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

In constant negotiations and discussions between the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of Health and Children, we would always raise the need for adequate inspections to ensure that these new regulations are implemented properly. Of course the regulations include consumer rights as well and the consumers have been advised of their right to have the country of origin of beef provided to them by a caterer, and that where the information is not made available they should bring this to the attention of the HSE.

Recently, guidance notes on the implementation of the regulations have been developed by the FSAI for use by their environmental health officers and of course those notes are also being made available to the caterers. It is not a matter of one versus the other. It is an evolving process and we want to ensure that the implementation is done properly and adequately by the people in the industry. The less policing needed in the future, the better.

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