Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The authorities here are monitoring the situation closely. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is in attendance at the emergency meeting. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is in constant contact with the Commission and food safety authorities in all member states. The information on prevention of E. coli and updates in respect of this outbreak is constantly updated. No formal inter-agency taskforce has been set up. This may become necessary, depending on the outcome of the emergency meeting in Luxembourg this morning.

The Deputy is aware that Dr. Eleanor McNamara, who is the director of the HSE's public health laboratory and a senior microbiologist, stated that because all cases discovered so far related to travel to Germany, it was inevitable that some cases might eventually be seen in Ireland. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will have a full, up-to-date position on the latest information following his return from Luxembourg this evening. Perhaps it may be necessary to upgrade this to inter-agency taskforce status but the House should have an opportunity to hear a statement from the Minister on the outcome of the meeting today.

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