asked the Minister for Health if there has been an increase in the recent past in the number of inspections and more stringent enforcement of the food hygiene regulations in respect of public restaurants, hotels and similar establishments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Food Hygiene Regulations.
33.
Yes. In the national hygiene campaign, which commenced on 28 November 1977, health inspectors employed by the health boards have been carrying out an intensive campaign of inspection of hotels, restaurants, public houses and other food premises with the object of ensuring that each of them was visited at least once by April. In the two-month period ended 31 January 1978 health inspectors carried out a total of 15,160 inspections, which is almost 4,000 more inspections than in the same period last year.
Have any prosecutions arisen as a result of these inspections?
There have been prosecutions but my policy and approach was, if at all possible, to deal with the situation by persuasion and encouragement in the first instance, and that prosecutions should only be initiated as a last resort.
Can the Minister indicate if in any case he gave a direction that prosecutions ought not to proceed where the health inspectors were intending to take such prosecutions?
No.
In no case?
No. I am very anxious that this campaign should succeed. The purpose of the campaign was that between November and April every single premises of the nature concerned should be visited at least once, and more often if necessary or if improvements were necessary. It is my intention that where possible in the initial stages of the campaign persuasion and encouragement should be used, but if there were recalcitrance and if there was a refusal to meet the requirements of the health inspectors, then a prosecution should follow. but it should not be a case of wholesale prosecution for the sake of prosecution. If a proprietor or the management of a premises indicated in good faith their preparedness to carry out the necessary improvements, prosecutions should not follow.