asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware of the extensive outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Europe; and if he will take all measures necessary to protect Irish herds against such infection in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foot and Mouth Outbreak.
32.
As the Deputy is, no doubt, aware, stringent veterinary controls are operated by my Department at all times on the import of livestock and livestock products, as well as on materials which might represent a disease risk. These controls are being extended in view of the existing situation in relation to foot and mouth disease in Europe, and steps have already been taken to intensify the arrangements at ports and airports for the disinfection of persons from abroad who may have been in contact with possible sources of infection. As I have recently stated publicly, it is of the utmost importance that everyone concerned should co-operate fully in all the measures necessary to ensure that the disease will not be introduced into this country.
As the Minister is no doubt aware, anyone who comes into this country by air or sea and who submits himself for examination does so on a voluntary basis. In view of the catastrophic outbreak of foot and mouth disease in practically every country in Europe and its rapid spread across the Continent, would the Minister not consider it necessary that everyone coming into the country should be directly questioned by the officer in charge as to whether he or she has had any contact with farms or livestock in Europe?
As the Deputy knows, everybody is put on notice but whether it would be administratively possible actually to question every single passenger—is that what the Deputy has in mind?
Yes. I would suggest that a card could be passed around in an aeroplane. That would be an easy method.
That is done.
That was done. Sometimes it appears to be done and sometimes it is not done. Deputy Esmonde's point is that it would be a good thing that it should be done now.
The position is that there is no foot and mouth disease in Britain or in most of the other countries with which we have the large volume of traffic, but I certainly have issued instructions that the existing controls are to be operated as effectively and as thoroughly as possible and we have brought in a few additional precautions and have the situation under review at all times to see if anything else should be done.