asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware of the increasing incidence of salmonella in cattle with particular reference to dairy cattle and the danger to human beings particularly children in drinking infected milk; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Incidence of Salmonella in Cattle.
83.
I am aware that salmonellosis in cattle is being recognised more frequently than formerly in this country where it has always been present. This is no doubt due in large measure to the greatly expanded diagnostic facilities available to herdowners through the recently established regional veterinary laboratories.
I am also aware that the contamination of milk and meat with salmonella organisms can constitute a hazard to human health. Fortunately, however, the organisms are susceptible to pasteurisation and are readily destroyed by cooking.
84.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if there is any compensation available to farmers whose dairy herds are locked up due to an outbreak of salmonella.
My Department do not operate any scheme under which farmers could be compensated for losses due to salmonellosis. This disease takes many forms and affects different types of livestock with no clinical symptoms in many cases. It would not be practicable for me in these circumstances to operate a compensation scheme.
The Minister has admitted it is more frequent than it used to be.
Detection is.
But surely that is indicative of how prevalent the disease is. Would the Minister agree that diagnosis is almost impossible because farmers who have their diseased animals locked up are not being compensated for losses while they are being locked up and that as long as this attitude continues the problem will not be solved.
I do not accept the Deputy's contention that where a farmer has an outbreak in his herd he should be automatically compensated. In the first place, I understand it is rarely fatal.
I spoke about compensation for losses while herds are locked up, particularly in dairying areas where milk is supplied to creameries.
The logical extension to that is that compensation should be paid in respect of all kinds of situations in respect of hundreds of kinds of herds.
Would the Minister agree that as well as detection being increased there is significant evidence that the disease has increased as a result of intensification, and would he not further agree that the attention of food, particularly meat, inspectors in many of the countries we supply is being more and more concentrated on the question of contamination by salmonellosis in meat? While most of us would not wish indiscriminate use of public moneys, would the Minister not indicate that his Department will consider some national scheme to come to terms with this serious problem?
I accept what the Deputy says because I understand outbreaks occur more frequently in herds where the animals are kept in intensive conditions. It therefore follows that greater vigilance by public health officers is necessary.