Government’s handling of issue a ‘disaster’

THE Government’s handling of the toxic pork issue caused an “unmitigated disaster”, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny told the Dáil.

He said Taoiseach Brian Cowen had “pressed the crisis button” over the weekend and decided on a total recall of pork products without any plan on what to do next.

The delay of several days in agreeing a compensation package for pork producers was inexcusable as it had threatened livelihoods, with 6,000 workers placed on protective notice.

“Pig farmers and processors are not to blame for this crisis. It has happened because an illegal substance found its way into the human food chain from a facility licensed by the state,” said Mr Kenny.

“The Government decided on Saturday on a total recall of product. There is no back-up plan to give effect to that decision.”

Mr Kenny was speaking yesterday morning while the talks on a compensation package for producers were still ongoing.

But the Taoiseach rejected the charges, saying there had been “no lack of urgency” on the Government’s part.

The Government had taken decisive action over the weekend by announcing the recall, and had moved quickly to deal with the subsequent issues that had arisen.

Mr Cowen said the Government was “acutely aware” of the impact that the suspension of slaughtering had had on hundreds of producers and thousands of workers whose jobs had been compromised by the recall.

But the Government also had a duty to ensure taxpayers’ money was not being unduly overexposed in negotiating the compensation package.

However, Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness echoed her party leader’s comments, saying the long delay in getting products back on the shelves would have lasting consequences.

“Getting safe product back on the shelves within hours was vital to the survival of the industry, yet no plans were put in place to ensure that this happened,” she said.

“This catastrophe is deeply regrettable because it was entirely preventable. The contamination of the food chain happened under the watch of the Department of Agriculture and Food, where we have a minister and junior minister watching over the food chain.

“Neither Brendan Smith nor Trevor Sargent can explain how things could go so badly wrong under their watch. They owe the public a clear and full explanation of what happened.”

Last night, however, Mr Smith confirmed that all the necessary controls were in place to enable the return of pork to the shelves — even though the delay in reaching a compensation package with producers meant only a small portion of products would reach supermarkets.

The controls, developed since Sunday, allow those involved in the pig meat industry to resume the supply and sale of Irish pork and bacon products.

Department or local veterinary authority personnel will oversee controls at pig meat slaughtering and processing plants to ensure that only pig meat unaffected by the contamination scare enters the food chain.

If the processor can demonstrate that pig meat produced since September did not come from any of the restricted herds, it can be released onto the market. All pig meat produced prior to September can also be released as the department is satisfied that none of the animals involved would have been fed the contaminated feed.

All pork products going back on the shelves will carry a special label, developed by An Bord Bia, to confirm they are safe to consume and verify them as having had no association with the potentially contaminated feed.