Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the specific role his Department plays in monitoring compliance with food safety and traceability requirements; the relationship or interaction his Department has with other Departments or State agencies in ensuring compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16823/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has overall responsibility for the co-ordination and enforcement of food safety legislation in Ireland. It carries out this remit through service contracts with my Department and other agencies. With regard to on-farm production, including farm inputs, my Department has responsibility for ensuring that only animal and plant material that fulfil the most stringent regulatory conditions and controls is allowed into the food chain. Most of my Department's food safety resources are engaged in these activities.

The work to ensure compliance with food safety and traceability requirements for products that come within the remit of my Department is carried out by the Veterinary Public Health Inspectorate and the Agriculture Inspectorate who specialise in particular sectors, such as dairy produce, poultry and horticulture. The laboratories within my Department support this work through sampling and analyses of the products concerned. Details of this work are described on the National Control Plan for Ireland which can be accessed on the Departments website.

The other Departments and State Agencies with whom we collaborate on this work are the Department of Health & Children, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the Local Authority Veterinary Service, the Health Service Executive, Safefood, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the State Laboratory.