Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 239 of 21 February 2006, the action taken by the Health Service Executive to date; the responses the FSAI have received from the official agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8161/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Parliamentary Question No. 239 of 21 February 2006 relates to an audit conducted by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI, and the action taken on foot of this audit.

The FSAI has confirmed that the Health Service Executive, HSE, brought the audit findings to the attention of relevant food business proprietors either verbally or in writing and follow-up inspections have taken place to monitor progress with a view to ensuring compliance. In addition, labelling and traceability inspections were later incorporated into routine programmed and surveillance inspections of premises as part of the HSE food monitoring programme.

With regard to the responses received by the FSAI from the other official agencies, the following is the position. The Department of Agriculture and Food has advised that the issues identified in relation to the plants within its remit have been rectified. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has confirmed that all non-compliance issues have been addressed through a combination of follow-up audits, inspections and voluntary closure of premises. The local authorities conducted subsequent audits on the premises in question to ensure that the issues raised had been addressed.

The Deputy may also wish to note that since the audit, traceability and labelling matters have, where appropriate, been included in improvements notices, prohibition or closure orders issued under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998 and served on the proprietors of food businesses by the official agencies.