asked the Minister for Agriculture the investigations his Department have undertaken to establish the cause of the deaths of farm animals on a farm in Ballydine, County Tipperary; the findings of the investigations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Deaths of Farm Animals.
8.
My Department's regional veterinary laboratory in Kilkenny has, since February 1981, been investigating conditions on a particular farm in Ballydine. In the course of this work, veterinary research personnel have visited the farm and numbers of animal specimens and of blood samples taken from animals on it have been examined by the laboratory.
My Department are willing to undertake further investigations on the farm if certain relevant data which the farmer and his veterinary surgeon have accumulated can be made available in order to establish the appropriate nature and scope of the investigations that might be undertaken.
Is the Minister satisfied that the problems causing the death of cattle on this farm are not caused by internal factors?
That is something we have not been able to clarify. Because of continuing complaints about conditions of livestock on the farm, my Department offered in early January to send a research team to do further investigative work there. No positive response was made to that offer. However, on 25 January last, as a result of suggestions by various interests who were concerned about the situation, a team comprising three veterinary research officers visited the farm and it was made quite clear that the Department were willing and anxious to undertake further work on the farm but that, in order to establish some kind of base line for that work, the research team must have access to various records, clinical data and other information which only the owner and his veterinary surgeon could provide. They both declined to provide access to the information sought. The owner said he would not disclose anything pending the outcome of his legal action against a neighbouring factory. Consequently, letters were sent to the owner of the farm and the veterinary surgeon on 8 February confirming once more the Department's willingness to undertake further investigations on the farm and again asking for the relevant data and information which would be treated in confidence. To date, neither has responded to that request. As late as 3 May the owner of the farm and his veterinary surgeon were asked if the farmer would be prepared to sell a live animal or animals to the Department of Agriculture in order to prepare a series of toxological analyses on animal tissue. We understand that the veterinary surgeon concerned is still considering this request.
Does the Minister agree that it is in the best interests of the agriculture and food industry and the factory that the source of this problem and its solution are found as soon as possible? Does the Minister also agree that it is a problem with very serious implications and that any further hiding or misrepresentation of facts should end? Has there been any meeting between the Minister for Agriculture, the Minister for Industry and Energy and the Minister for the Environment whose three Departments are involved?
I agree with the Deputy that we must do everything possible to get to the root of the problem to see if it is being caused by external factors. We have been examining the situation since February 1981 but it is an extremely complex case. In reply to the latter part of the Deputy's question, it was decided by the Government on 25 March that the Minister for Labour should co-ordinate with the Ministers for Agriculture, Health, Industry and Energy and the Environment to consider certain questions of factory safety and the environment in relation to the factory plant at Ballydine and to report back to the Government. My Department are co-operating fully in the furnishing and evaluation of all the material and in preparation of the report which is expected to take some weeks to complete.
I should like the Minister to state how long this investigation will take. South Tipperary County Council spent £25,000 in the last 12 months trying to identify this problem and there is great concern in the county. It is of the utmost importance and in the interests of everyone concerned that the matter is dealt with as speedily as possible.
A question, please, Deputy.
Could the Minister indicate how soon the findings from the investigation will be completed?
We are all very concerned and endeavouring to see how the problem emanated. That is why we have been taking such measures over the past two years. As I pointed out in my original reply, we have run into difficulties because we have not had access to data which we have requested. However, I hope the interdepartmental study will be completed within a matter of weeks.