Vol. 442 No. 5
125 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 2,000 salmon vaccinated with genetically engineered live bacteria were released at an unspecified location in the west of Ireland in 1992; the location of this release; the number of other releases that have taken place since; if phase two of the release of salmon has been applied for; if so, if phase two has started; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I understand that the Deputy is referring to a research project involving the testing of a prototype vaccine against the salmonid disease, furunculosis, which was carried out in 1992 under the auspices of the Salmon Research Agency of Ireland Incorporated as part of a programme of research undertaken by the National Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Centre at Trinity College Dublin. Some 2,000 Atlantic salmon were vaccinated for the trial and held in a specially constructed isolation unit at the SRA facilities at Newport, County Mayo. The outflow water from the unit was sterilised in accordance with the terms of an experimental licence issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. In accordance with the terms of the experimental licence, all fish were slaughtered on conclusion of the trial and hygienically disposed of on-land in an approved manner. I am advised that there are no plans at present to extend these trials.
