Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 216: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the complaints there have been in relation to employment procedures at any of the newly established North-South bodies since their inception. [8804/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Health and Children has responsibility for one North-South implementation body established under the Good Friday Agreement, namely, the Food Safety Promotion Board, or Safefood. Safefood's remit is to promote awareness and knowledge of food safety issues on an all-island basis.

I am not aware of complaints in relation to recruitment procedures. However, I am advised that Safefood has received two complaints regarding the appointment of a co-ordinator for a research network on cryptosporidium. The co-ordinator's role attracts a grant of €10,000 per annum for a period of five years to facilitate the setting up and maintenance of the research network but it is not considered by Safefood to be a contract of employment. Both complaints are currently being processed by the appropriate employment equality machinery, one within this jurisdiction and one within Northern Ireland.