Ten cases of BSE have been confirmed this year, by comparison with 15 last year. The decline in that very isolated incidence in a cattle population of seven million is very welcome. There is no comparison between the situations in Ireland and the United Kingdom, where over 20,000 cases have been confirmed in a cattle population of 12 million. I am satisfied that we do not have an indigenous BSE problem and that we are dealing with a spillover from the UK.
A series of stringent precautionary measures have been put in place. Immediately the condition became known in the UK in July 1988 a ban was imposed on the importation of meat and bonemeal from that country. At the same time a prohibition was imposed on the importation of animals from those UK herds in which BSE had been diagnosed; a campaign to alert my Department's veterinary staff and private veterinary practitioners as to the symptoms of the disease was initiated. This included the use of relevant video material obtained from the UK authorities; the veterinary research laboratories of my Department undertook minute examinations of the brains of all cattle referred to them; following confirmation of our first BSE case the disease was made compulsorily notifiable in April 1989. Affected or suspected animals are slaughtered and destroyed. Compensation at market value is paid; the progeny of affected dams have been purchased and are held at the veterinary research laboratory farm at Abbotstown; routine monitoring is carried out at meat plants and suspicious cases are referred for diagnosis; the export of cattle born before July 1988 from the UK to other member states was banned by the EC in July 1989. This was later extended to a total ban on all cattle exports — except for veal calves — from the UK to other member states with effect from March 1990; the use of ruminant material — e.g. meat and bonemeal — in ruminant feedingstuffs has been banned; and restrictions have been placed on the herds in which BSE has occurred.
I am, of course, aware that the restrictions which have been placed on the herds are causing problems. I have devised arrangements whereby my Department will assist the herdowners affected in the voluntary depopulation of their herds and this process is now under way.
Finally, I must emphasise that there is no evidence whatever that BSE is transmissible from animal to animal or that it poses any threat to public health. At the same time, I am conscious that consumers demand, and are entitled to receive, the necessary assurances as to the safety and quality of Irish beef. The measures I have taken are the most stringent possible. I am satisfied that they provide these assurances.