Inquiry into pork dioxin crisis opens

The Oireachtas agriculture committee inquiry into the handling of the recent pork dioxin crisis opened this morning at Leinster House.

The joint Oireachtas committee agreed to suspend all other business to investigate the scare which saw the recall of Irish pork products that had been contaminated by cattle feed.

The secretary general of the Department of Agriculture Tom Moran was the first witness before the committee this morning. He strongly defended the department's decision to order the total recall of all pork and bacon products during December.

"I would contend that the approach taken to the management of the incident was correct," Mr Moran told the committee.

"The approach taken demonstrated how seriously the department takes any question over the safety of Irish food products.

"While there were significant financial consequences to the decision to recall all pork, the damage would have been far more severe and long-lasting if it had been decided to allow any possible contaminated products to remain on sale to consumers.

"This would have perhaps irretrievably damaged Ireland's reputation as a producer of safe and quality food."

Mr Moran said that up to January 4th, some 50,000 pigs had been slaughtered and a further 40,000 would be killed by the end of this week Mr Moran told TDs and Senators on the Agriculture & Food Committee.

Arrangements are also under way for the slaughter of around 4,500 cattle.

Today's meeting is the first of a series of hearings which the committee will be holding in the coming weeks in order to investigate the issues surrounding the contamination of Irish pork products and consider how the difficulties now facing this industry might be overcome.

Speaking before the inquiry opened, the Oireachtas committee chairman Johnny Brady TD said: "the contamination of Irish pork products had a huge impact on producers, and consumers. Throughout the next few weeks, the committee will be assessing how this situation came about and examine how best to restore confidence to the industry in order to secure the future of this important sector."

The Oireachtas committee will also be seeking evidence from the department's chief veterinary officer Paddy Rogan and other officials directly involved in the handling of the crisis which came to light on December 6th last.

Some of the other individuals and agencies who will be appearing before the committee throughout the upcoming weeks include; Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Brendan Smith: Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children Mary Wallace; the Food Safety Authority, Bord Bia, the Environmental Protection Agency, Irish Grain and Feed Association and representatives from pig producers and processors.

The committee intends to publish its findings at the end of its deliberations.

Additional reporting: PA