asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his attention has been directed to a statement made in the House of Commons, by Mr. James Hoy, British Joint Parliamentary Secretary, to the effect that the cause of salmon disease in Ireland has not yet been established; if he will make a general statement as to the extent of the salmon disease; and when it is likely that it will be fully investigated and that steps will be taken to prevent its spread.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Salmon Disease.
34.
I have seen the statement referred to. As to the extent of the salmon disease here, my Department has issued periodic press releases which included accounts of the river systems affected. Briefly the position is that of the 100 or so salmon rivers in the Twenty-Six Counties about 36 may be classed as major salmon rivers. Since the outbreak of the disease six of the major salmon rivers and six others have become seriously affected by disease. They lie in the sector from the Liffey round to the Shannon inclusive.
Detailed investigations into the nature of the disease are being conducted in the Veterinary Research Laboratory of my Department in close consultation with outside experts, and any further findings resulting from these investigations will be published.
I am advised that the only practical measure which might be taken to prevent the spread of the disease is the removal of diseased fish from the waters during the open fishing season and this is being done.
I should like to ask the Minister two specific questions. First, would he take steps to ensure that the filter equipment in the veterinary laboratory is adequate for the proper investigation of any possible virus that may be responsible for this disease? Secondly, will he get the scientists who are conducting the investigation to consider the question as to whether this new virus, which appears to be associated with an esturine location, may derive primarily from lampreys, creating the unprecedented situation with which we are at present confronted?
I shall look into both.