Day 094 - 01 Mar 95 - Page 63
1 MR. RAMPTON: He said there was not, my Lord.
2
3 MR. MORRIS: Why should you set up a completely separate system
4 to avoid a conflict of interest between two people that are
5 working together in the same plant?
6
7 MR. JUSTICE BELL: He has effectively said to avoid a risk of
8 it. That is what his answers amount to.
9
10 MR. MORRIS: Why is there a risk of it?
11
12 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Because it is human nature. Some things I can
13 draw lines between myself without necessarily question and
14 answer.
15
16 MR. MORRIS: Is there a conflict of interest between moving
17 lines as quickly as possible and ensuring that
18 contamination is dealt with and removed?
19 A. You have to understand the -----
20
21 MR. JUSTICE BELL: What is the answer to that? I would have
22 thought, without knowing, that if you got rid of all
23 inspections altogether then the plant might move more
24 quickly?
25 A. Yes.
26
27 MS. STEEL: Were you aware of an internal government review of
28 the allegations about meat safety, were you aware of that,
29 saying that the FSIS has lost the confidence of the public
30 and its own employees?
31 A. You have to be a little bit more -- probably I need
32 more information so I could answer.
33
34 Q. So are you not aware of that?
35 A. I am aware of a lot of the things. You have to be a
36 little bit more specific. You made statements and then
37 asked me a question. So I do not know exactly what you
38 mean. If you could be more specific I would appreciate it.
39
40 Q. Well, are you aware of anything that sounds like that?
41 A. Can you ask me the question again?
42
43 Q. Are you aware of an internal government review which said
44 that the FSIS had lost the confidence of the public and its
45 own employees or something to that effect?
46 A. OK. When you say "a" I do not know one which one there
47 is.
48
49 MR. JUSTICE BELL: No. Are you aware of one at all?
50 A. Yes.
51
52 Q. The existence of any review?
53 A. Yes, I am aware.
54
55 MS. STEEL: You are aware of one?
56 A. Yes, I am.
57
58 Q. You are aware that that is what it said?
59 A. It has been discussed and taken place, yes. Yes,
60 I have heard similar things, that is correct.
