I wish to return to the problem arising from the total recall of bacon products which has become an unmitigated disaster. Pig farmers and processors are not to blame for this crisis. It has happened because an illegal substance found its way into the human food chain from a facility licensed by the State. The Government decided on Saturday on a total recall of product. There is no back-up plan to give effect to that decision. When an emergency plan kicks in for a local authority the various State agencies know what they must do.

In this case processors are not back at work, 6,000 workers are on protective notice and housewives all over the country are faced with imported bacon from Denmark, Holland and Great Britain in retail outlets. There are no Irish bacon products on sale two weeks before Christmas. The situation is well known to the Taoiseach. He knows the scale and extent of the problem but the Government has not made a decision that would allow processors to return to work in their factories.

There were 16 hours of talk yesterday and some progress was made. I would like the Taoiseach to tell the House this morning, in the interest of housewives who want to stock up this weekend or next week, workers who are on protective notice and the dole, processors who are not the cause of this problem being able to put their plants back in operation and pig farmers whose stock is ready for entry to the processing plants what will be decided. If the Government knows the scale of the problem why has it not made a decision and given processors the opportunity to return to work, with or without European assistance?

The Taoiseach said yesterday that this was not ruled out by Europe; I understood it was. I would like the Taoiseach to tell us the consequence of the plan he has put in place and what decision has been made on allowing processors back to work, bringing the industry back into operation and allowing Irish products to be on Irish and foreign shelves this weekend.

Hear, hear.

Discussions between the Government and the Irish pig processing sector adjourned early this morning and resumed at 10 o'clock this morning. Progress was made during the discussion and I remain confident of achieving an outcome which will facilitate the early resumption of processing. There is no lack of urgency on the part of the Government; it is acutely aware of the impact the suspension of slaughtering has had on hundreds of producers throughout the country and thousands of workers whose jobs have been compromised by recent events.

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, is centrally involved in the discussions and I am available at all times to assist in every way I can. Everyone has an interest in the resumption of slaughtering. Producers have thousands of animals ready for slaughter this week and processors have domestic and international markets to fill. The Government wants to see this significant sector operating at full capacity and the thousands of jobs in the sector secured.

The discussions have considered a number of possible approaches to provide support for the sector. The involvement of the Minister and I is a clear indication of the Government's commitment to achieving a solution and is recognition of the value of the sector. We are conscious of the importance of the pig sector to the Irish agrifood industry and its contribution to the wider economy. Our priority is for processing to resume as a matter of urgency. If agreement on an aid package is reached slaughtering could recommence shortly thereafter.

The European Food Safety Authority is preparing its scientific assessment of the risks to human health of the possible presence of dioxins in pigmeat and pigmeat products from Ireland. It will also evaluate any risks posed by the presence of contaminated pigmeat products from Ireland in composite foods. We expect this assessment to be published today. It will provide a great degree of clarity on the secondary processing sector. The question of liabilities arising there is something that is central to what we are trying to achieve in the urgent ongoing discussions.

They are fine words. What does the Taoiseach think himself?

That does not——

It should have been given to one of the Taoiseach's juniors to be read out.

God help Ireland if they were in power.

I welcome the announcement that there will be a report from Europe today on secondary processing. The Taoiseach's response does not deal with the primary problem. He pressed the crisis button, decided on a total recall and has no plan to back it up. Can he tell the arrangements for the transport of product in retail outlets and supermarkets? What are the transport arrangements for product from processors? What are the arrangements for rendering this product? What transport and rendering arrangements have been made for products in retail outlets and processing units abroad? What decision has been made about organic pig producers who never use meal and are entirely separate from this?

If money is a problem — I understand there is a gap in the discussions between the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Government — they know what the problem is. Money will be received from Europe or it will not; it has no legal basis. There was no assistance given in the Belgian case a number of years ago. Whether that applies or not the system has ground to a halt because processors are unable to process product. That can only be started if they deal with the financial pressure caused by disposal, rendition, cost, transport and the opportunity to get back to work. There are 6,000 people employed in the processing industry, 2,000 of whom are on protective notice or on the dole. Housewives all over the country want to buy Irish produce, but every supermarket contains only Danish, Dutch and British bacon for sale. Sows will not wait because nature takes its course, so they have got to get into these processing plants.

What decision has the Government made on the big picture? I do not want us to get locked down on details. The Government should have been able to press a crisis button on Saturday and have a clear plan to deal with the consequences. That is not happening, following 16 hours of talks last night. I hope that this is sorted out by lunchtime today. If the Taoiseach and his Ministers want to see this production line in operation, then he should make the decision to ensure that it happens. He has the authority, the opportunity and the scope to do that, whether or not he gets any assistance from Europe. This crisis erupted because an illegal product found its way into the human food chain from a facility licensed by this State. The problem was not caused by farmers, processors or consumers. These groups want to see the production of high quality products, of which we have always been proud. However, the Government is responsible for the current delays in the system, under the polluter pays principle. We need to have that rectified and the Government is the agent in place to do that.

Will the Taoiseach instruct the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to set out the Government's overriding ambition? We want to see processing plants operating to full capacity. If the Minister so directs, that can happen today and those workers on protective notice can get back to work. Hundreds of thousands of consumers can then buy Irish pork products and An Bord Bia can lay out its strategy for the restoration of consumer confidence in this product at home and abroad. The Taoiseach needs to take decisive action quickly.

Hear, hear.

We took the decisive action over the weekend. If his position is that we should have taken into account commercial considerations at the same time as dealing with the primacy of the consumer issue——

I did not say that.

Let the Taoiseach finish, without interruption.

If that is his position, then he has changed his position.

That was my position yesterday. I accept the evidence of health experts.

If the Deputy did, then——-

This is completely contrary to standing orders. The Taoiseach must be allowed to reply.

If that is the Deputy's re-established position this morning upon inquiry, then clearly the action that had to be taken was precisely the action that was taken. The consequences that arise from that is the issue with which we are now contending.

Then deal with it.

We are dealing with it. In dealing with it, the question is about getting the processing industry and those who supply it back into production. It also raises the responsibility we have to assist that process in a way which ensures that the taxpayer is asked to make a contribution that is commensurate to what we can achieve, without leaving the taxpayer open to contingent liability. That is the responsibility of the Government. If it were simply a matter of instructing people to go back into production, that would have happened before now. We are determined to work with the processing industry to find a solution that is consistent with all of those legitimate requirements.

The European Union issue is something I have raised in respect of aids to private storage. I had a telephone conversation with the President of the European Commission this morning at 7.30 a.m., while the Minister has spoken to Commissioner Fischer Boel, and we have outlined the extent of the issue that is facing this sector of the economy and explained the need for the Commission to see in what way it can assist. The Commission will obviously continue to investigate that matter. That in no way takes away from the work this Government is doing to make sure we try to get this matter resolved as quickly as possible. Yesterday evening, last night and again this morning, we have seen very detailed discussions taking place, dealing with all of the issues mentioned——

I thank the Taoiseach.

——and how the logistics of this can work. We are doing it without the Deputy's prior advice.

The Government should be ashamed. It has the country bankrupt.

Let the Taoiseach finish.

The Taoiseach should look behind him, his backbenchers are not impressed.

In regard to a key matter raised by the Deputy, it is open to the local authority veterinary service and the departmental veterinary service in respect of any producers or processors of meat in the organic or other sector to have the source of their supply certified and product available and marketable for sale at any time, and that is ongoing.

What about the jobs in Edenderry?

Another fine mess the Government has got us into.

Some day the Deputy will believe himself.

It will not be long now. The Tánaiste and her colleagues should enjoy it over there, because they will not be back in the Dáil the next time. The people are waiting for them.

The Deputy will be in Europe by then.

Side bar discussions are not allowed on Leaders' Questions. I call Deputy Gilmore, without interruption.