Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the arrangements that have been agreed as a result of his meeting with the British Secretary of State for the North, in regards to the on-going horse meat scandal. [8857/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I discussed the equine DNA issue with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Ms. Theresa Villiers in Farmleigh on 11 February. We noted that the issue is now a Europe wide problem and we welcomed the ongoing cooperation and contact between the Irish Food Safety Agency (FSAI) and the Food Safety Agency in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The substantive issue is dealt with by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Substantive arrangements regarding food safety are the responsibility of the Minister for Health.

Having regard to the close trading relationship between the Irish and UK food industries, Minister Coveney has been in regular contact with Owen Paterson MP the UK Secretary for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Both Minister Coveney and Secretary Paterson have agreed that the FSAI and the UK Food Standards Agency will jointly agree on measures for protecting the authenticity of meat ingredients used in the manufacture of meat based products.