Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of inspections performed by environmental health officers on restaurants in 2007 and 2008; the number planned for 2009; the number of premises in breach of the beef labelling laws in each year concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47292/08]

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for the enforcement of food safety and food labelling legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and its official agents, which include Health Service Executive and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

I have been informed by the FSAI, that in 2007 the Health Service Executive recorded 48,597 inspections across all premises under their supervision. In the retail and service sectors 11,692 and 32,909 inspections took place respectively. During the course of these inspections, 1,500 infringements of general labelling and presentation legislation were recorded by Environmental Health Officers.

In the first six months of 2008, in excess of 17,500 programmed inspections took place. The projected number of inspections for 2009 has not yet been finalised.

I have also been advised by the FSAI that while inspection information relating specifically to beef labelling legislation infringements is not currently identifiable, it is intended to compile this information for 2008. I understand that the number of inspections and follow-up actions taken in cases of non-compliance with the Health (Country of Origin of Beef) Regulations, 2006 will be compiled for 2008. I have asked the Chief Executive Officer of the FSAI to identify and to forward, directly to the Deputy, details on the non-compliances with the aforementioned regulations for 2008.