Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the Food Safety Authority of Ireland will retain its status as an independent agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4993/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is a statutory, independent and science-based agency, dedicated to protecting public health and consumer interests in the area of food safety and hygiene. It is responsible for enforcing food safety legislation across the 47,500 food businesses in Ireland. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland's work has never been more important than it is today. It has a unique role to play in ensuring that consumers' interests are first and foremost, and for maintaining consumer confidence in the safety of foods produced and marketed in Ireland. It is envisaged that the Food Safety Authority of Ireland will continue its work and will retain its present status as an independent agency in the future.