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THE INVESTIGATION INTO the horse DNA found in burgers sold in Irish supermarkets was dealt with on an individual basis, the FSAI and Department of Agriculture confirmed today.
A Department of Agriculture spokesperson told TheJournal.ie that communication between the FSAI and the Department over such food investigations is “handled on a case-by-case basis”.
Timeline
It emerged yesterday that Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, was informed about the results of tests on the burgers on Monday 14 January, and that the FSAI received results of German laboratory tests on Friday 11 January.
The Department of Agriculture was requested by the FSAI on 21 December 2012 to take samples of ingredients at the two processing plants of concern.
The testing began in mid-November when the first samples were taken by the FSAI and sent for analysis to a private laboratory. Further samples were taken at retail level again December and analysed in the private laboratory in Ireland, and following on from this, all of the initial samples which tested positive were sent for analysis in late December to a lab in Germany.
This was to confirm the accuracy of the initial tests.
When the Department was informed about the results on 14 January, it immediately began a full scale investigation, said Minister Coveney.
An FSAI spokesperson told TheJournal.ie that the association carries out tests on food on a regular basis, and that they would flag any issues with the Department of Agriculture or the HSE, or whatever appropriate group they need to inform. The procedure would depend on the initial results they get.
They carried out a number of tests on the beef burgers to ensure that that the initial results were correct and hadn’t been contaminated in a lab, she said.
Questions
Today in the Dáil during Leaders’ Questions, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin questioned Minister Brendan Howlin on the issue, asking for the second day in a row why there was a delay between the initial test results being received and Minister Coveney being informed about the presence of horse and pig DNA in the beef products.
He asked Minister Howlin if he thought this was “acceptable”, particularly given that department officials were informed by the FSAI before the Minister.
Minister Martin also noted that 20,000 horses were slaughtered last year in Ireland, and asked if the Government would commit to establishing a traceability regime.
Minister Howlin said that he believes Ireland has a high standard of oversight of food production, “the best, I would say, in the world”. He reiterated that this is not a public health issue and said it it is an issue that doesn’t relate to food safety, but relates to food standards.
He noted that the results of the most recent testing will be available this afternoon. “It is important that we approach this entire episode in a completely open and transparent way.”
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Ugh. People who vote for gobshites like the Healy-Reas should be ashamed of themselves. If they weren’t voted in this crap wouldn’t happen. Parish pump at its’ best.
at it’s worst surely ?
But he fixed the road
“I was told very, very clearly that nobody could say whose phone they were from” – so, he did check before hand? :)
Just amended the article Danny. He said he checked this out last night as opposed to beforehand.
If they held an election tomorrow in South Kerry, I’d say he’d still get in for stickin’ to de Dubs. FFS.
I hope the media are requesting details of phone calls from Kerry County Council and other Local Authority offices, and St Luke’s! The Healy-Rae’s are a disgrace to this country.
He’s a clown !
I think youll find its we are the clowns for putting up with it
I’m no fan of the mail, but this is a public interest story. Very good.
Yet another proud day for Ireland!
Look at the type of person that Kerry voters return again and again
Martin Ferris (convicted terrorist)
The Healy-Raes (gombeen men)
The ‘Bull’ O’Donoghue
Draw your own conclusions……
I agree with everyone that this is a disgusting story which brings Ireland to new depths . However , Kerry people aren’t alone in voting for ‘Gombeen Men’ ( Michael Lowry springs to mind) and as far as I know John O Donoghue wasn’t elected at last election. As for Ferris that’s another story …..
Garrett Fitz. got a state funeral even though he got a non recourse loan from AIB, Haughey likewise. Garrett was the man behind the first bank bailout (AIB) and refused to hold any of his close friends on the board accountable. Hey it only cost several hundred million and unemployment was 18% but they were just the unwashed masses. If you look at every FG or FF Govt. over the last 50 years you will find endemic corruption at the highest level, some blatant brown envelope stuff but mosty, and at a greater cost it is the turn a blind eye to friends, award them jobs and contracts or do not bother working on some issues as no one you know personally or politically will benefit.
Sounds like Manuel from Fawlty towers. I am from Kerry I know nothing.
He didn’t know, but what has daddy got to say about it. Hmmm he’s very quiet for some reason
planned it before he went into the competition maybe? you know, then not having a mobile with you would make no difference! I mean does he actaully think he actually won, look at him for god sake!
Who told him ‘ very very clearly that no one could say whose phone they were from ‘ ? I thought it was possible to trace phone calls.
It is, but he’s hoping we’re as intelligent as him (by that i mean stupid) and won’t figure that bit out ;)
And the tax payer paid for every one of the calls. I like to decide where my own charitable donations go and I dont like a politician making that decision for me .
Does it really matter who voted for who in these sickening shows. The only correct vote would be to ban them.
What else would you expect more cute hoor behaviour
Just email finegael@finegael.com and voice your opinion there, I’m sure if enough people do this they will have to take notice.
Bloody Kerry Gobshites have they no shame
I was just waiting for another Healy-Rae theft. Absolutely no shame whatsoever.
This disgusting cretin should resign
As a Kerryman I am sorry to say that I am ASHAMED of that whole family. They are an embarrassment to our county, our country and our political system. We need to get rid of this gombeen politics ASAP.
Apologies from the Kingdom ………….
Well done to the Irish Daily mail, for once.
Surely the phone systems in governement go through a PABX and therefore every handset can have their numbers dialled reported upon? Well, unless the Healy-Rae’s still have the A/B button phones in their office. Wouldn’t surprise me – buffoons, they should be held to account.
I don’t care if you had or hadn’t a phone in Mayo, just resign and go NOW you pleb
It’s funny how all Kerry people are being slated as though they were the ones making the phonecalls. I think the real gobshites are the people on here who are condemning a whole county for the behaviour of a few. Kerry people hate losers so maybe Healy Rae felt he had to keep the winning tradition that emits from the county. And btw-I’m from Dublin.
Its the good people of South Kerry who keep electing the Healy Raes.
While I don’t condone what occurred I can’t help but notice that this revelation has occurred soon after Healy Rae refused to step down from A state board after Minister Burton expressed she had no longer confidence in him. How convenient for her agenda that this incident, which occurred four years ago, should find it’s way into the national media.
Exactly. How would the journalists have known to check who rang the competition?
Well it has to be pointed out that he should have stepped down from that board as well.
Gobshite …………
This family are straight out of Boganville or Hicks Corner or Red Neck county!
Talk about embarrassing, next thing he will try and convince the gombeens – his followers that someone not related to him, sat and made all these calls!!!!!!!!!!
Talk about moronic! The people who vote for him and his ilk, not the pollies, they must be laughing at the voters who vote for them cos no matter what they do, the idiots still continue to vote for them.
Lowest, common denominator seems to win everytime, it would seem!
maybe his daddy got ff to vote for his son, in exchange for supporting the last government, and that why jackie and his son kept the seat, they had the last government by the balls,
Some ppl have no shame esp those who sit in a warm and cosy seats of the Dáil.
I’d say he not the first and wont be the last ;)
According to the Annual Report of the Houses of the Oireachtas for 2009 there were 226 Politicians and their staff and 435 civil servants. That is an average of 3636/661 = 6 calls per head of staff – take out sick leave and unfilled posts and it gets interesting.
Like my boy Shaggy says: “If you don’t know what to do… say it wasn’t you!”
Yet another insult to the Irish people.
We pay the cost of this guy becoming a celebrity so he can reap the benefits for himself.
The Irish people are insulted again. Like idiots we just accept it.
Look! This all happened during the Celtic Tiger years. It couldn’t happen now. We’ve all moved on since then, Haven’t we?
I don’t see how the fact this happened when we had money makes any difference in the least.
The point is these people don’t change their spots.
The sad thing is, as bad as this is, and it is vile. It is not a patch on what FG and FF Govt’s have done over the last 30 years. When they abuse public funds for the benefit of friends and donors they do it in the tens of billions.
God I hate the look of these gobshites, and when they start to talk it makes by blood boil. They sound like f’n turkeys. No sign of him handing money back as a sign of good faith.
The cheek of those Healy Reas is unbelievable.Jackie seems to have gone silent all of a sudden.I hope that Joan burton manages to dislodge Michael from the citizens information board.
He looks that thick and ignorant it’s almost believable HOWEVER he is a Healy-Rae and I wouldn’t believe a word out of his gob!
Hes Podge and his dad is rodge
Considering it’s an obvious abuse of power at the tax payers expense he should not only resign but the Gardai should be involved. That’s the trouble in this country. Clowns in the Dáil.
Finfacts had a very interesting article about the secrecy of Irish journalism a longer time ago.
It really fits, looking back at it all.
http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_10002526.shtml
To the people who havent woken up yet about our ‘media’, that link is a good starting point.
This is why we need to keep foreigners out of Ireland, to ensure that there is no cultural dilution of the good people of south Kerry ;-)
How does 3,636 call to a premium number only amount to €2,639?
I read on another site that the calls were charged at 60 cent each.
Dáithí Ó Sé should demand a recount…
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