Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she has had with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Department of Health and Children on the enforcement of country of origin labelling within the catering trade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32773/06]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she has had with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland on the enforcement on the food labelling laws in view of their report to her Department of breaches in the law under her jurisdiction following an investigation of 90 food businesses completed in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32742/06]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she has had with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland on the enforcement on the food labelling laws; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32772/06]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she has had with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland on its report into breaches of food labelling laws of 90 food businesses completed in 2004; the action her Department has taken following the reporting of breaches in the legislation under it's control; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32743/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 165, 174, 182 and 216 together.

The enforcement of food labelling regulations is centralised in the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) who ensure that the appropriate controls are carried out by the relevant official agencies. The official agencies include the Health Service Executive, my Department, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs and the local authorities.

My Department is in touch with officials of the FSAI on an ongoing basis and regular meetings are held to discuss a wide range of issues. Any issues, which arise in relation to the enforcement of food legislation, including enforcement of labelling legislation, are discussed where necessary, in this context. Prior to the recent introduction of labelling regulations extending the beef regulations to the catering sector, my Department held a number of meetings with the FSAI in relation to appropriate enforcement procedures, which are carried out by Environmental Health Officers.

As I indicated in replies to similar questions on the 27th June 2006 my Department received the elements of the FSAI report that referred specifically to plants that came within its remit. These related to 11 premises and were all minor breaches. My Department, to the satisfaction of the FSAI, addressed the issues identified by the FSAI audit.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she is taking to extend country of origin labelling in the catering trade to lamb, pigmeat and chicken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32726/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am glad to say that regulations were introduced in June 2006 (operational from 3 July) to extend 'country of origin' information requirements on beef at retail level to the catering sector. The enabling legislation passed by the Oireachtas in March of this year, under which these regulations were made, also facilitates the extension of country of origin labelling to all meats. However, because different origin labelling requirements apply to other meats in the retail sector under current EU legislation and there are also different systems of traceability as well as some import/export complexities, it is not as straightforward as it is for beef. The European Commission has opposed Member States introducing legislation in this area that is in excess of common EU requirements. Nonetheless, my Department is at present in the process of drafting new regulations to require operators in the retail and catering sectors to provide country of origin information on poultrymeat, pigmeat and sheepmeat. It is my intention to submit these regulations, when they are finalised, to the European Commission for approval as required by EU legislation.

Of course, the preferred way forward is that the Commission would progress the question of country of origin labelling of all meat at EU level. I wrote earlier this year to the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection on this subject. I also raised the issue in the Agriculture Council some months ago and will continue to take every opportunity to press for progress on this matter. I also raised the issue with Commissioner Fischer Boel during her recent visit to Ireland and was pleased with her own positive views on the need for an EU origin label.

I am also glad to inform the Deputy that the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate of the European Commission undertook a consultative process on a wide range of issues in this area earlier this year, under a document entitled 'Labelling: Competitiveness, Consumer Information and Better Regulation for the EU'. I arranged for my Department to make a submission on food labelling and country of origin labelling of meat in particular to the Department of Health and Children, who co-ordinated the Irish contribution to this process. In the meantime, my Department will continue its work on the drafting of national measures.