Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Feb 1994

Vol. 438 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - BSE Disease.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

11 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry where milk from BSE suspect herds is disposed of, the way in which such milk is disposed of, and the procedure for dealing with animals from confirmed herds, that is, the disposal of carcases and other such matters.

BSE is a nervous disease of adult cattle for which there is no scientific evidence to suggest that there is animal to animal transmission.

Affected or suspected animals are slaughtered and the carcases are destroyed by burial or burning. In order to meet the demands of certain trading countries, a scheme is in operation whereby herds in which a case occurs are depopulated with compensation at full market value being paid to the herd-owner. As there is no risk to human health, no restrictions are placed on the milk or meat from the unaffected animals in these herds.

Will the Minister clarify that in the case of BSE an animal only becomes suspect when the incidence of BSE is reported officially? What happens from the reporting of the incidence of BSE on a farm to the removal of the infected animal? What measures are being taken by the Minister to allay public concern? I detect a desire among the public to be kept informed on the details, given the news reports on BSE.

When dealing with a problem such as BSE, there is science and pseudo-science. The International Animal Disease Organisation in Paris has confirmed there is no risk of transmitting BSE to human beings or animals by using milk or meat from such animals. Movement restrictions are placed on herds in which a BSE infected animal has been diagnosed. In addition, monitoring is carried out at all meat plants and suspicious carcases are referred for diagnosis. This is a further follow-up to protect the consumer.

On the Minister's reference to science and pseudo-science I must point out there is also officialdom and pseudo-officialdom. Do press statements confirm that consumers accept his reassurance because there is an information deficit on this disease among the general public?

The Deputy must avoid making statements.

How has the Department kept the public informed on the nature of BSE, which is not a risk to consumers and is not transmitted to other animals? Has the Department the situation under control?

The Deputy has been given a great deal of latitude by the Chair.

A sense of proportion is required. To date, 82 cases of the disease have been confirmed in Ireland since the first case was confirmed in January 1989. This is an average of 16 cases per year and, in the context of a bovine herd of seven million, this is an extremely low incidence of disease. There is informing the public and scaremongering. The Department has acted responsibly and the policy of depopulation is invoked when an animal is diagnosed or where a suspicious or diagnosed carcase occurs. The carcase is disposed of by either burning or burial. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that the disease is transmitted from animal to animal or from animal to human. Rather than speculating in a pseudo-scientific way, we should accept the scientific data that is available and which I have given to the House.

I wanted evidence of how the public has been kept informed.

Top
Share