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

I thank the Minister for coming to the House today to take this question. We all appreciate that the worst news a Minister in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine can get is the news that some food issue has arisen. The message we can all take from this today is that it is because we have such strict regulation and procedures that an issue like this is picked up. Having looked at some comments in the newspapers, I believe we need to keep repeating that there is zero risk to human health in this regard, because of the excellent systems that have been put in place by many Governments over many years.

The precautionary testing of the cattle turned up this case. This animal would never have got into the food chain. Apart from that, we do not put risk material into the human food chain. Therefore, even if an animal was found subsequently to have had BSE, there would be no risk to human health. It is important that we get the message abroad that we are open for business and that our standards are as high as ever and although there is a possible case of BSE here, we are investigating it through all means available. Please God, the Department will detect the cause of this case, because there are unusual aspects to it.

The positive message from this case is that the check system works and picks up the issues. We are more likely to pick up issues because we have a good check system. The great thing is that nothing escapes and because of that Irish food is probably the safest food of anywhere in the world. Our processes are very good and this case in no way impairs the standard or quality of Irish beef or any other animal product on the market. I look forward to getting an update from the Minister on what has happened in the past week. I am sure he hopes, as I do, that we find the cause. The Minister can then deal with the cause and we can move on.

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