Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

We want to ensure enforcement of regulations that were supported by all sides in this House, and into which there was much work put by the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Department of Health and Children and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. We want to see the best positive results from those regulations. We will ensure they will be complied with when implemented.

In my initial reply I stated there is detailed European Union legislation laying down conditions for the import of food from third countries. I mentioned earlier approved establishments, health certificates and border inspection posts, all of which are in place to ensure food imported from outside the European Union meets the standard set by the food and veterinary office.

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