Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 315: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of checks across the food industry for potential shortcomings in traceability and labelling standards the Food Standards Authority of Ireland has carried out between 1 April 2006 and 30 September 2006; the number of inspectors who are employed or contracted by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to carry out such checks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32814/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Staff in the official agencies contracted by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) carry out checks on traceability and labelling on a routine basis, or as required. During the period 1 April 2006 to 30 September 2006, the FSAI carried out a total of 107 such checks on various sectors of the food industry in conjunction with its official agencies.

The official agencies contracted by the FSAI for the purposes of labelling and traceability are the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Health Service Executive and the local authorities. Approximately 1012 (whole time equivalent) staff are available to those agencies for food control purposes.