Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 577: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the work that has been done to create a single food safety monitoring agency, building on the existing Food Safety Authority of Ireland, which will be responsible for food safety from farm to fork; when this body will become a reality; the impact on employment; the location at which same will be based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22236/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is responsible for the enforcement of all food legislation in Ireland through service contracts with my Department and other agencies.

The Inter Agency Review of the pork dioxin incident in December 2008 recommended that the remit of the FSAI should be extended to include animal feed. The legal methods of putting this in place are currently being examined and it is intended that the role of the FSAI will be extended in line with the recommendation. Once the process is completed, the FSAI will have overall monitoring responsibility for both feed and food, consistent with the EU Hygiene legislation which also covers both areas.