No we should not.
I believe the failure was on the various arms of Government and processes that should have been observed which were missed or ignored. In other words the public servants messed up so they should pay by with-holding bonuses, increments, seniority, pensions and / or by sacking them. This does not exclude the relevant Government Ministers who ultimately are accountable for this massive system’s failure.
As we are dealing with food for human consumption, this is how this particular system should operate, please bear with me.
Tom runs a family farm and breeds pigs. His premises, animal houses, methods of working, machinery, storage facilities, feed-stuffs, cleaning materials, waste disposal / dispersal / recycling processes, live-stock and other produce and his record-keeping are subject to inspection and audit by :
- Department of Agriculture Food & Fisheries
- Health and Safety Authority
- Revenue Commissioners
- Health Services Executive
- Environmental Protection Agency
- The local planning authorities.
Tom gets issued with his annual licence and insurance when all of the above agencies agree that Tom is equipped to run a family farm as a pig-producer.
Dick runs a pig feed factory. His premises, methods of working, storage facilities, raw materials, machinery, cleaning materials, waste disposal / dispersal / recycling processes, products, packaging, staff training and his record-keeping are subject to inspection by the same agencies as in Tom’s case, above.
Dick gets issued with his annual licence and all-risks insurance when all of the above agencies agree that Dick is equipped to run a pig feed factory.
Harriet runs a bakery. Her premises, methods of working, storage facilities, raw materials, machinery, cleaning materials, waste disposal / dispersal / recycling processes, products, packaging, staff training and record-keeping are subject to inspection by the same agencies as in Tom’s case, above.
Harriet gets issued with her annual licence and all-risks insurance when all of the above agencies agree that Harriet is equipped to run a bakery whose primary product is fit for human consumption and whose waste / excess product is fit for use as a raw material for animal food.
Mary runs a meat processing plant. Her premises, methods of working, storage facilities, raw materials, machinery, cleaning materials, waste disposal / dispersal / recycling processes, products, packaging, staff training and record-keeping are subject to inspection by the same agencies as in Tom’s case, above.
Mary gets issued with her annual licence and all-risks insurance when all of the above agencies agree that Mary is equipped to run a meat processing plant whose primary product is fit for human consumption and whose waste / excess product is fit for use as a raw material for animal food, agricultural fertiliser, rendering into soap, glue, etc.
Fred is a pork butcher. His premises, methods of working, storage facilities, machinery, cleaning materials, waste disposal / dispersal / recycling processes, products, packaging, staff training and record-keeping are subject to inspection by the same agencies as in Tom’s case, above.
Fred gets issued with his annual licence and all-risks insurance when all of the above agencies agree that Fred is equipped to run a pork butcher’s whose primary product is fit for human consumption and whose waste / excess product is fit for use as a raw material for animal food, agricultural fertiliser, rendering into soap, glue, etc.
Fred can only sell to a consumer if he has on display in his shop all the current, requisite licences, insurances and certifications. A consumer who buys from Fred if he doesn’t have his licences on display does so at his / her own risk with no recourse.
Fred can only buy from Mary if Mary has all her paper-work up to date. Mary can only buy from Tom if his paper-work is up to date. Tom can only buy from Dick under the same provisos and Dick can only buy from Harriet under identical conditions.