Call for independent inquiry into horse meat

Fianna Fáil has called for an independent investigation into the horse meat controversy.

Agriculture Spokesperson Éamon Ó Cuív said the longer the crisis goes on, the more damage is being done to a high premium, high-quality industry.

Mr Ó Cuív was critical of Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney's handling of the controversy, particularly the lack of information.

He said he was working on a detailed line of questioning for this afternoon's meeting of the Agriculture Committee.

Gardaí and a special unit at the Department of Agriculture are investigating the latest discovery of horse meat at an Irish beef processing factory.

Three quarters of a material used by Rangeland Foods in Co Monaghan was found to contain equine DNA.

In Northern Ireland, samples of frozen meat at a cold store in Newry were found to contain 80% horse meat.

The Cabinet was to be briefed this morning on the latest developments by the minister via video link from Strasbourg.

Irish Farmers' Association President John Bryan has described the latest controversy as a "sorry saga".

Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr Bryan said that while the minister is in Europe trying to negotiate a deal for Irish farmers, what he called rogue traders in meat and rogue processors were damaging Ireland's reputation.

He condemned meat processors who are willing to buy products, the authenticity of which cannot be verified.

He added: "To have someone here for the quick buck willing to damage our standards here and willing to buy a product from a trader, certainly that we cannot check the authenticity of his product and put that into a box and label it as Irish is absolutely unacceptable.

"It's unacceptable for a person doing business in Ireland and it's letting down Irish farmers."

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the horse meat controversy needs to be dealt with.

Asked whether the Government still believes the material came from Poland or was merely labelled as Polish, Mr Kenny said it was clear that a plant in Poland supplied material but other investigations might have to take place.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of the Food Safety Authority has said somebody is "drip-feeding" horse meat in the burger manufacturing industry in Ireland.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Prof Alan Reilly said there is some level of fraud going on and that is why gardaí have been called in to investigate.

He said it was no longer about trace amounts of horse DNA in products, but there was actual horse meat in burgers.

Prof Reilly said the net was "tightening" but the investigation still has some way to go.

He also stressed that the Polish authorities had not formally come back to the Irish food authorities.

Polish investigators invited to Ireland

Mr Coveney has said he is not surprised that a raw material ingredient at Rangeland Foods contained 75% horse DNA.

Speaking on RTÉ's Prime Time last night, he said the product, which was sourced from Poland, was the same ingredient that was being supplied to the Silvercrest plant.

Mr Coveney said that these plants were the only burger manufacturers using this product.

Polish authorities have said that their tests have so far proved negative for horse DNA.

Mr Coveney said the department has invited Polish investigators to Ireland to see the evidence that has been gathered.

Meanwhile, the UK's Food Standards Agency has said it tested a quantity of frozen meat in a cold store at Freeza Meats in Newry, which "is potentially linked to the Silvercrest factory" in Co Monaghan.

A statement on the agency's website said of the 12 samples that have been tested, two have come back positive for horse meat at around 80%.

The FSA has launched an investigation into the traceability and source of the frozen meat, which has not entered the food chain.

Meanwhile, Supermac's Chief Executive Pat McDonagh, which is supplied by Rangeland, has said he is satisfied that the company is using 100% Irish beef in the product supplied to his fast food chain.

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