asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the serious repercussons of sporadic outbreaks o swine fever on pig sales, he will state what additional precautionary step are being taken by his Department to deal with this developing menace; and if he will make a general statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Swine Fever.
Mr. Moylan
I regard the present position as so disturbing that I deemed it advisable to issue a statement to the Press on Saturday last. The Deputy no doubt has seen it but, if he has not, I shall be glad to let him have the text.
After a period of steady progress in the elimination of the disease, the position took a grave turn for the worse in recent weeks, the disease having been confirmed in five counties, involving over 900 pigs. This spread of the disease was undoubtedly due to the action of persons who moved affected pigs and failed to inform the Department about them as was their duty.
I cannot stress too emphatically that without the fullest co-operation of every person producing or dealing in pigs there is a danger that the situation may get out of hand with very grave consequences for the pig industry generally.
In the final analysis the remedy for the present situation lies with the pig producers and dealers and I trust that there is no pig keeper or dealer in the country who is not by now fully aware of the grave responsibility which rests upon him in this matter.
I am at present actively considering various additional measures for dealing with the problem presented by these outbreaks and, as the Deputy is aware, discussions on the matter are taking place between officials of my Department and of the Ministry of Agriculture, Belfast. I hope to be in a position to make a further statement in the matter in the course of a few days.