PROPOSALS will soon be brought before the Government for the setting up of an independent food safety board on a statutory basis, the Minister for Defence and the Marine, Mr Barrett, announced at the weekend.
The board, under the aegis of the Minister for Health, will have powers to ensure compliance by other regulatory authorities.
The Fianna Fail chief whip, Mr Dermot Ahern, meanwhile, has called on the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, to resign.
He said confidence in the Minister had plummeted, adding that nobody believed he could command the credibility needed to restore confidence in the beef sector.
The establishment of the food safety board was welcomed by the Irish Farmers' Association (IF A), the Progressive Democrats and the Green Party yesterday.
The IFA president, Mr John Donnelly, said farmers would welcome the board if it addressed the concerns of consumers in a rational and scientific way.
Farmers would welcome any conditions which would safeguard public health and reassure consumers of the safety of Irish food.
The PD spokesman, Sen John Dardis, said he welcomed the belated announcement of plans for a food inspection body independent of the Department of Agriculture.
He had called for the removal of responsibility for food safety from the Department since the BSE crisis broke in March.
One Department could not assume responsibility for the production of food and ensure its safety. There was a clear conflict of interest, he said.
Ms Paula Giles, spokeswoman for the Green Party, said it had campaigned for years for a body which would have direct responsibility for the health of consumers and the safety of food.