Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We need clarity on what we are discussing, namely, food supplements. These are legally designated as foods in the European Union, with their own directive, Directive No. 2002/46/EC. They are concentrated foodstuffs. They must be produced, presented and supplied in accordance with food law and are subject to the specific labelling requirements of foodstuffs. I say this because people can mix them up with sports supplements or cosmetic supports. Food supplements are a narrow and important category of foodstuffs.

I agree very strongly with the points made by Deputy McGrath. The Taoiseach's remark that all these products are snake oil was probably not thought out and probably made off the cuff. We are talking about fundamental vitamins, including folic acid which we encourage pregnant women to take. It is very unhelpful of the Taoiseach, who happens to be a medical doctor, to describe essential vitamins that are important in preventing disease in children as snake oil.

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