Northern Ireland Assembly Monday 13 September 2010 Written Ministerial Statements The content of this written ministerial statements is as received at the time from the Ministers. It has not been subject to the official reporting (Hansard) process. Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Independent Review of the Dioxin Incident Published at 9.30am on Monday 13 September, 2010 The First Minister and the deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): We wish to inform Assembly Members of the publication of the “Independent Review of the Dioxin Incident in Northern Ireland, December 2008”. A recall of all Irish pork products produced from pigs slaughtered in Ireland was ordered by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland on Saturday 6 December 2008. This had a major impact in Northern Ireland, resulting in a decision by the Executive to commission an independent review of the handling and communications of the incident. This Review was undertaken by Mr Kenneth J MacKenzie CB, a former senior civil servant in the Scottish Government. Mr MacKenzie’s Report was submitted to the Executive on 9 September 2010 and is being published today. We would like to record our gratitude to Mr Mackenzie for undertaking the Review. The Report sets out a number of recommendations which the relevant Ministers and key stakeholders will now consider in detail. The relevant Assembly Committees will also wish to consider the Report as appropriate. The Executive will then consider proposals for responding to the recommendations to ensure the lessons are learned and necessary actions implemented in preparation for and in handling any such incident in the future. The Report is available for viewing in the Assembly Library or on the OFMDFM website at www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk. |