Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach should be grateful that I have not taken a narrow political line on a matter as important as this. I am not talking about the reassurances given by the health officials, because I respect their expertise and their professionalism in this matter. I am talking about consumer confidence. As Minister of State for trade many years ago, I recall having to deal with some aspects of this, and it is incredibly difficult to have confidence restored when something is damaged. The Taoiseach will recall the difficulties we had with exporting beef to Egypt, and these problems were not sorted out by politics, but science. We had to prove beyond yay or nay that the product was first class and that we could stand over it.

I am concerned to hear the Taoiseach talk about devising the parameters of a scheme for submission to the European Union. Have I been incorrectly informed that the EU has ruled out a compensation package for processors here? Has that been confirmed to the Taoiseach? What does he mean when he talks about discussing the parameters of a scheme to get the industry back processing? He is aware that pigs are in the line and that the system cannot wait because the cycle is so short. These processors need to get back to work now. They cannot do that due to the financial pressure that is on them. If they are to resume processing following what the Taoiseach calls the analysis of the parameters of a scheme, how long will that take? Is the scheme ready in the Department? When does the Taoiseach propose to take this to the European Union for its consent? When can he deal with the allegation that the EU has ruled out a compensation package? When can the processors expect to get back to processing pigs?

Is the Taoiseach happy that the Government and the Department have been fully in compliance with the requirements of European rules and regulations on notification? I made reference to the Government's response to the discovery of dioxins in pork. I accept the statement issued by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, in which the authority's medical experts confirmed that there is no risk to public health from beef. They have said that this is consistent with the precautionary approach taken to date. Is the Taoiseach happy that the approach and the response are consistent? Is he happy that the Government's approach will restore confidence to consumers? We are aware that Bord Bia's marketing budget for next year has been cut. I assure the Taoiseach, on the basis of my personal experience, that it is incredibly difficult to restore confidence among people in other countries after it has been damaged. International damage was done in our case. I can testify that bacon products from Great Britain and Denmark were available on shelves throughout the west yesterday. The Government faces a real crisis in dealing with that lack of confidence.

How does the Government propose to deal with the crisis in the pork and bacon sector? What resources will it give to Bord Bia to remarket our pork and beef products, of which we have all been proud over the years, in other countries? How does the Government expect to restore consumer confidence in these two critical products, which are of such importance? I would like the Taoiseach to respond to these questions as generously as he can. I ask him to confirm that he is fully satisfied that the Government and the Department have been absolutely compliant with EU notification and information requirements.

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