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Annex 1 Q. I am concerned at the use of language in the document, which strongly emphasizes the all-Ireland context. Since we already have a Food Standards Agency that covers Northern Ireland, I would question the need for two bodies that seem to be doing similar work, especially since your budget is £4.873m. How many of the Board's current staff of 15 are from Northern Ireland? [Mr Berry] A. As public servants we simply operate the legislation. The Food Standards Agency ensures compliance with the regulations on food standards in Northern Ireland, whereas the FSPB provides advice and guidance and works to a wider dimension. We recognize that there will inevitably be a degree of overlap but the two bodies work closely together to minimize the potential for any duplication. There are two members of staff from Northern Ireland working on the FSPB but we are clearly keen to attract scientists and others with a range of skills to the organization. We acknowledge, though, that the combination of Cork's southerly position and our present constraint in only being able to offer staff short-term contracts (until the North/South Ministerial Council meets on the matter) make it difficult to encourage those living far from Cork to apply for jobs in the FSPB. Q. I found the document quite offensive as it seems to follow an all-island agenda throughout. Why was Cork selected as the headquarters for the FSPB? I would like to see the Northern Ireland representation on the Board increased substantially. Who contributes to the Board's budget? Where will the Food Safety Training Council be based? [Ms Armitage] A. The term "all-Island" is set out in the legislation following the Agreement. However, the focus of the Board is purely on public health, and the issues in relation to food are common throughout the island. The decision to select Cork as the HQ was a political one taken at North/South Ministerial Council level. We are lobbying for an additional site in Dublin, which would be more central and accessible for staff. Funding for the FSPB breaks down at 70:30 RoI to Northern Ireland, which is based on population levels. Staffing is an issue, which is based on the level of available expertise, but we are strongly committed to a policy of open recruitment. There will not a physical location for the Training Council; it will be more of a forum. We would be keen to see the establishment of a mobile unit that would take the information out to people. Q. Will there be a common database for surveillance and research that is available to anyone? Will there be a focus on healthy eating in education at schools and in the curriculum? [Rev R Coulter] Legislation will be required to enable a database on food-borne illness on an international basis. Schools are very important in terms of getting across important messages on food safety, and we have commissioned a study into current educational initiatives, including models in the UK - for example, a scheme in Wales that promotes fruit in children's diets. Food safety forms part of the school curriculum in the RoI in the transition year from junior to senior cycle. A food-handling course leading to a certificate is being piloted. We are in discussions with Belfast Education and Library Board with a view to commissioning a report on what is taught at primary and secondary level and bringing recommendations. Q. Who was responsible for the excellent advertisement promoting the benefits of folic acid during pregnancy? What is the position with regard to typhoid susceptibility on the island? [The Chairman] A. The NI Health Promotion Agency and the Health Promotion Unit of the Department of Health and Children were jointly behind the folic acid promotion. There have been no reported cases of typhoid. Q. People can be very sensitive to the use of certain terminology in official publications. Who decides the policy for the wording and what goes into this type of document? It is also important that the Board restricts itself to co-ordinating issues of food safety on an island level and avoids usurping the work of existing organizations. [Mr McFarland] A. The document was produced with the help of our public relations advisors and we are very aware of and sensitive to the political sensitivities involved. We are doing our best simply to get out a strong message on food safety. Q. Is the increase in the incidence of BSE cases in Ireland attributable to purely to the increase in sampling? Why has it taken the RoI until this year to ban meat and bone meal (all animals), when a similar ban has been in place in Northern Ireland since 1996? Tonsillectomies have been stopped at present in Northern Ireland due to fears about contamination risks from non-disposable medical instruments. What is the position in the RoI? [Ms McWilliams] A. Fallen animals are now being tested as part of the sampling, which has lead to an increase in BSE incidence. But these animals do not get into the human food chain. We understand that the UK ban on meat and bone meal for poultry and pigs was introduced as an extra control for consumer confidence rather than as a result of empirical evidence. To date there is no evidence that BSE can be contracted through this means. Use of medical instruments is outside the remit of the FSPB. There is currently no ban in place in the RoI on tonsillectomies. The FSPB is acutely aware of the importance of the independence of its scientific advice. None of its advisory board is from the food-producing sector, although it does have a member of the Consumer Council to give it an extra dimension. Q. At the time of the BSE outbreak people were being wrongly advised about the risks, including food movement, which was damaging to the economy in Border areas. Will your organization be in a position in the future to offer sensible advice on such matters? [Mr Gallagher] A. Dr Quigley said publicly at the time that there were no risks associated with the movement of food. The organization will certainly comment on future food safety issues and put them into perspective. We meet regularly with the liaison officers from the respective Agriculture Departments North and South to collaborate closely on these types of issues.
Health and Social Services Minutes 26 September 2001 |
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