Vol. 420 No. 5
21 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will give details of any information available to his Department regarding the suggestion that insecticides used to kill off warble fly in cattle may play a role in the development of BSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
(Wexford): No information exists in this country which links the use of organo-phosphorus compounds for warble fly treatment in cattle with cases of BSE. Organo-phosphorus compounds are broad spectrum insecticides which have been use extensively in many species of animal for over 30 years.
The first case of BSE in Ireland was recognised four years ago at a time when the use of organo-phosphorus preparation for warble fly control was greatly diminished. Therefore, the suggestion that these preparations can trigger or otherwise influence the development of BSE must be regarded as purely speculative.
