asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will outline the precautions being taken, or proposed to be taken, to ensure that foot and mouth disease will not spread to this country as a result of cross-Channel contacts with fairs and markets here.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Precautions against Foot and Mouth Disease.
20.
Since the foot and mouth disease epidemic reached serious proportions in England and Scotland about three weeks ago, my Department has taken every possible precaution in order to ensure that the infection would not be brought into this country. As indicated in the Deputy's Question, one of our main fears has been that infection could be brought in by persons in the livestock or meat trades coming in here from England or Scotland, or by Irish livestock traders returning from visits to those countries. For that reason, we have on a number of occasions in the past three weeks published press and radio announcements to the effect that such people should avoid travelling, and we have urged them, if they must travel, not to bring in here any clothing or footwear which they use in the course of their business in England or Scotland. The Livestock Trade Association has co-operated with the Department in making similar requests to its members. The Department has asked the proprietors of every livestock sales yard and market in the country to make announcements on this subject during the course of their sales.
My Department also instituted a system whereby every person arriving in this country by boat or plane must present to an officer of the Department on landing a card indicating whether in the previous 28 days he has been on land or premises infected with foot and mouth disease, on a farm or in contact with farm animals, or associated with the meat trade. The Department has on duty at all ports and airports a very large staff of officers whose duty it is to examine individually the card presented by each incoming passenger and to disinfect the footwear and clothing of any passenger about whom there is any doubt.
I am considering measures which will enable us to deal more drastically with any used clothing or footwear being brought into this country which may be a source of danger.
Would the Minister not agree it is almost certain we shall suffer the spreading of foot and mouth disease if the markets continue to be held and cross-Channel traders continue to attend them? Would he be prepared, instead of asking for a voluntary effort, to impose more stringent restrictions in order, in a positive way, to ensure that foot and mouth disease will not be brought into this country?
Every aspect of this problem has, from the very beginning, been discussed thoroughly from day to day with administrative and veterinary officials of my Department in consultation with their opposite numbers in Britain and Northern Ireland. As a result of these discussions and consultations, these people are following a certain pattern which they regard as practicable and necessary. I have no doubt in my mind at all that they would recommend any further steps which they think feasible in order to ensure that such a tragedy would not befall us.
Has the attention of the Minister been drawn to one feature— the transport of motor cars from England, Scotland and Wales, as to whether some precaution might be necessary to prevent the introduction of infected mud and earth on the undercarriages of such vehicles? It is a matter which the Minister might consider.
Yes.