Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I do not accept that. On the public health issue, I need only refer to the independent scientific assessment from the European Food Safety Authority. I take this opportunity to once again emphasise that Irish pork and bacon is safe to eat. It is important also to reiterate that we continue to take seriously our food safety responsibilities.

The Minister, Deputy Smith, referred to the national residue monitoring programme, which together with the national feed inspection programme, makes up the national food and feed control plan for Ireland. The sampling regime under this overall plan is an internationally recognised risk-based assessment and is comprehensive in nature. I accept urgent lessons need to be learned. This review is part of the overall response to the crisis.

I visited the laboratories at Backweston and noted there a huge level of commitment and urgency in respect of testing. It is well established but not widely known that Irish laboratories can turnaround tests in respect of PCBs. While this is not yet the case in respect of dioxins, it is hoped it will be possible for them to do so by late February or March.

Apart from the determination to safeguard public health, our economic interests dictate that our agri-food sector is safe and of the highest reputation. For example, the meat sector accounts for €2.4 billion worth of exports and is a major contributor to employment and investment, in particular in rural areas. I agree with Deputy Creed that we should not exclude secondary processors who, along with renderers, were represented at the negotiations. They continue to work with the Department to identify, quantify and value the product in-store and for recall. I assure Deputy Creed that they are being included.

The agreement between my Department and the pig processors provides the necessary framework and allows for stocks and other product covered by the product recall to be removed for destruction. This will free possible bottlenecks in the processing sector. As I stated earlier, we are caught between a rock and a hard place in this regard. Obviously, protection of workers was a huge priority and we need approval of this Supplementary Estimate to ensure this. It is not, unfortunately, possible to provide Members with all the details they seek although we would do so if we had the luxury of more time.

I am heartened by the support and understanding shown by our EU colleagues and the Commission. The financial assistance being provided for private storage is tangible evidence of their good will. I am grateful to Bord Bia, the Minister and his officials who worked hard while visiting other countries to ensure we return our market, following temporary suspension of our exports in some countries, to full capacity. I am also grateful to the House for the general interest and support in the national interest in the past ten days. The investigation is ongoing involving all agencies. In reply to Deputy Ferris, the investigations have to involve the Garda Síochána, given the reasons he outlined. The Supplementary Estimate is a necessary part of that process and I commend it to the House.

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