Taskforce may be necessary on E.coli

THERE WERE no indications that any imported product to Ireland had been affected by the E.coli epidemic and there had been no reports of any illness, Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil.

He added that the Government was not complacent about it in any way.

“The Food Safety Authority of Ireland remains vigilant and in constant contact with the European Commission and other food safety authorities in all member states,” said Mr Kenny.

He said the authority was posting regular daily updates on the outbreak and on progress being made on its website for consumers. One could also find advice relating to E.coli prevention and proper and safe food-handling practices.

Mr Kenny said that earlier yesterday an emergency meeting of agriculture ministers had been held in Luxembourg, and Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney would report to the House on that.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said it was a serious issue in terms of public health, adding that one only needed to consider the extraordinary impact it had on the German health system.

He said he found it incredible that a national inter-agency taskforce had not been established.

Mr Kenny said the authorities were monitoring the situation closely.

“No formal inter-agency taskforce has been set up,” he said.

“This may become necessary, depending on the outcome of the emergency meeting in Luxembourg this morning.”

Mr Kenny said Dr Eleanor McNamara, director of the Health Service Executive’s public health laboratory and a senior microbiologist, had said it was inevitable that some cases may eventually be seen in Ireland.