Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I propose to share time with Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.

We appreciate that the ongoing crisis regarding the contamination of meat for human consumption has potentially lasting harmful consequences for the Irish food industry as a whole. That is why it is essential that we all act responsibly, given the number of jobs and farm livelihoods involved. I appreciate the Minister’s position and the fact that he and his officials have kept Opposition spokespersons updated on the progress of the ongoing investigations. We do not seek to score cheap political points or attempt to make out that the Minister is responsible for creating the problem.

It is also worth noting, perhaps, that while initially the crisis appeared to focus on this country, and attempts were made to put across that impression in other jurisdictions, we are dealing with a European-wide problem, with many countries involved. The Minister's presentation today shows the problem is wider than the European union. That is not to seek to overlook any possible practices in this country that have contributed to the crisis. We cannot make definite judgments while the investigation is ongoing, but if it is proved that anyone here was knowingly involved in the passing off or production of food products containing horsemeat as beef, they need to be dealt with severely.

One of the issues that has come to our attention, and to which the Minister referred, is the fact that an Irish company, QK Meats, found traces of equine DNA in imported Polish product on 27 June last year. A further six positive tests occurred at the same plant up to September. Having glanced through the report, what I found striking about the investigation was that the company was purchasing raw material from Poland at €400 a tonne less than the corresponding price of beef trimmings available here. Not only was the company purchasing it, but when it detected horsemeat in its initial tests on 27 June last year, it returned the batch involved but kept purchasing from the same company. This continued despite the fact that DNA evidence suggested the ingredients contained horsemeat.

In February this year the company finally made the Minister, the Department and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland aware of what had happened, which I find very disturbing. During that period, it was continuously testing. What was the motivation behind the initiation of tests? When it was carrying out tests and finding contamination of food products, it failed to make the FSAI and the Department aware of what was happening. After the event became public and other companies were involved, the company finally came clean.

I hope the Minister can satisfy us about whether he had any concern about connections between FSAI personnel and the players in the industry. This went on from June to February without notification to the Department or the FSAI. Why did the FSAI begin testing at the end of last year? What prompted it? Was there a reason for it and did information come to light that directed it to carry out tests?

The Minister said the company had failed to inform the Department of earlier findings. The carry-on of QK Meats leaves an awful lot to be desired. There is a connection between Dawn Meats and QK Meats. The damaging effect of what the two companies failed to do has consequences for the wider sector.

There is clearly an issue to be addressed, especially given that the initial discoveries of horse DNA by QK Meats were not disclosed. That is not acceptable given that had such a disclosure been made at the time it would have acted as a red light and comprehensive testing and awareness programmes could have been conducted to ensure that the crisis did not develop as it has done since Christmas. If the Minister, his Department and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland had been aware of the origin of this product and QK Meats had made them aware of it at that point in time, it might have saved us an awful lot of difficulties down the road.

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