There are no indications that imported produce to the Republic has been affected by the E.coli epidemic and no case of illness has been reported, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said.
"That is not to be in any way complacent about this," he told the Dáil this afternoon. "The Food Safety Authority of Ireland remains very vigilant and in constant contact with the European Commission and food safety authorities across all the member states."
Speaking during Leaders's Questions, Mr Kenny said the authorities in the Republic were monitoring the situation very closely.
He was replying to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who said a multi-agency taskforce was critically important to ensure that any possible threats to public health, horticulture and the economy were assessed and mitigated as soon as possible.
Mr Kenny said such a taskforce might become necessary, depending on on the outcome of today’s emergency meeting of agriculture ministers in Luxembourg.
