17 Jan 2012, 16:59
The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture today met with Animal Health Ireland (AHI) and engaged in a wide-ranging discussion its work.
Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “The Committee today heard how an organisation with limited resources like Animal Health Ireland can play a key role in safeguarding the food industry.
“The prosperity of the food industry, worth up to €10 billion annually, is directly related to the safety of the food we are producing. Indeed, animal health, animal welfare and farm profitability are fundamentally interlinked and of equal importance. Committee Members were impressed with the organisation’s innovative structure, which receives funding from government, processors and livestock producers.
“The detailed briefing afforded an insight into how AHI has punched above its weight since its foundation in 2009. By seeking to emulate international best practice, it has established itself firmly as the authority on safeguarding against costly non-regulated animal diseases such as BVD and Johne's disease.
“Tapping into the knowledge of over 58 specialists nationwide on a pro-bono basis, AHI is a model of how best to support an industry so critical to national economic recovery.”
Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership
Deputies
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Pat Deering, Fine Gael
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael
Martin Ferris, Sinn Fein
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour Party
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Michael McNamara, Labour Party
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fail
Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fail
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael
Ann Phelan, Labour Party
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Senators
Michael Comiskey
Paschal Mooney
Pat O’Neill
Mary Ann O’Brien
Brian Ó Domhnaill
John Whelan