“We are – once again – the meat in the sandwich.” – FSAI chief specialist Dr Wayne Anderson in an e-mail to colleagues in April 2008, on pressure from industry and public health specialists
“Many of the bottled waters on the market are nothing more than tap water in bottles.”
– FSAI deputy chief executive Alan Reilly
“I cannot understand why we are continuing communication with them . . . They conducted the withdrawal (I think), they showed us test results to indicate no further problems – end of story.”
– Dr Anderson, in response to colleague’s questions about what should should be done about a UK company whose water tested positive
“Should we not be issuing a press release on this, as discussed? The text for the homepage stating that ‘the results are cause for concern’ is something that we should be sending out widely and not just on the website.”
– FSAI press officer Jane Ryder, in an e-mail to colleagues in September 2008.
“We have gone out of our way to alert them to the issues and we should do no more.”
– Dr Anderson, in an e-mail to Mr Reilly, on a request from the Beverage Council of Ireland requesting a further meeting before publication of the report.
“Following today’s [staff] meeting, I am still left with the question of why the bottled water report was not published. What exactly was wrong with [it]?”
– FSAI librarian Noeleen Murtagh, in an e-mail to chief executive Dr John O’Brien, November 2008
“The FSAI has an obligation to ensure that our publications are credible.”
– FSAI chief executive John O’Brien to his deputy, Alan Reilly, November 2008. Two days later, the report was leaked, to much adverse publicity.