I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together.
My Department has responsibility for food safety legislation, including Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers. As mentioned in a response to a previous parliamentary question, this Regulation provides that mandatory food information shall appear in a language easily understood by consumers and Member States may require that the information be given in one or more language(s) from among the official languages of the Union. When transposing the language requirements of the EU Regulation, and in light of the Official Languages Act 2003, flexibility was provided to ensure that food placed on the market in Ireland can be accompanied by mandatory food information in either English or Irish and English. Flexibility was necessary to ensure that the legislation was not creating barriers to trade and that the burden placed on businesses, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) was not disproportionate.
The 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 – 2030, for which the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht has responsibility, includes a commitment for Government to examine the feasibility of introducing a voluntary code for bilingual labelling and packaging of all goods sold in Ireland. The flexibilities provided for in S.I. No. 556/2014 ensure that any such voluntary code, as it would relate to food information, will not contravene the mandatory information requirements of the EU FIC Regulation. The Department of Health will be happy to assist the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht in progressing such a voluntary code as it relates to food information for consumers.
The FIC Interdepartmental Group (IDG) was established in 2022 in direct response to the European Commission’s 2020 proposal to amend certain aspects of the FIC Regulation which did not include language provisions. Its members were nominated by relevant Departments and Agencies to help inform the Irish position on the Commission’s proposals. Changing the terms of reference of this IDG to include discussion of Irish language provisions would not be in line with the purpose of this particular IDG.
As Minister with responsibility for the FIC Regulation, I currently have no plans to convene a Group to examine the language provisions of the FIC Regulation or S.I. No. 556/2014. However, should the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht proceed on examining the feasibility of introducing a voluntary code for bilingual labelling and packaging of all goods sold in Ireland, officials from my Department will be happy to support and assist it in relation to food information for consumers and the FIC Regulation.
If the feasibility for a voluntary code for bilingual labelling and packaging is to be examined then an impact assessment will need to be undertaken, this should include comprehensive stakeholder engagement and the SME Test to ensure the measure is proportionate and effective.
