asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the steps he is taking to protect the poultry and egg industry from fowl pest.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fowl Pest.
43.
On the first report of the outbreak of Newcastle Disease in Northern Ireland on 16th November a complete veterinary ban was immediately applied to all imports of poultry, poultry carcases and poultry eggs from that area. There has also been continuous contact between my Department and the Northern Ministry of Agriculture. All other precautionary measures considered necessary have been taken by the Department, with the co-operation of the Customs authorities and the Garda. The Department have, in addition, the full co-operation of farm and poultry organisations in ensuring that our own poultry-keepers here take adequate measures to protect their flocks against any possible introduction of the disease, in particular by avoiding contact with Northern Ireland poultry interests, by discouraging visits to their premises and by using protective clothing and effective cleansing and disinfection procedures.
Is there any truth in reports that extensive poultry smuggling is endangering these precautions?
I have no indication that such smuggling is taking place.
Would the Minister not agree that, no matter how we try to seal the Border, we will not stop this smuggling and that what the Department should be doing is seeing that the packers do not take in eggs from Northern Ireland? I think this could very easily be done by the packers sending in every week——
The Deputy is making a statement.
——a note to the Department of the number of eggs they buy from different sources.
My information is that the Department are making this sort of check.
Has the Minister sent additional personnel to the area to deal with the matter?
Yes.