Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I fully accept that the Minister of State would like to give us the full information. I am disappointed that the Minister is not, as was agreed when the new format for Topical Issues was agreed, here to answer for himself. I do not attach any blame to the Minister of State for the response given, which is of the type with which I, when Minister, was often presented and would return seeking further information. It is not satisfactory that we are not being given answers to our questions.

The Minister of State told us that an open competition was held by the Public Appointments Service in March 2012. I do not go along with the popular view that only those selected by the Public Appointments Service should be appointed because boards often require the expertise of technical people. I believe that if the Minister, on reviewing the list of selected appointees, identifies a deficit of people with the skills required he should make his own appointments and then answer for those decisions. The best people for the job might not always apply for it. Many boards, such as the pensions board and so on, require technical expertise.

One will find from a review of my record when a Minister that I did not make any last minute appointments to boards. I took a decision not to do that. It is important that a commitment is given that vacancies will be filled on the day they occur, unless such vacancy is unforeseen and-or casual.

The reply states that traces of horse DNA were also detected in batches of raw ingredients, including some imported from other member states. It is very cleverly written. If the Minister of State does not know the answer to the following question, I ask her to get it for me. Can we take it there is no truth to a story in the newspapers at the weekend that some of these raw materials might have originated within the country? Clarity is needed on this issue. Wherever the horse DNA came from, did any of it originate in Ireland? Is it possible that any did? Was all of it definitely imported from a supplier from abroad?

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