Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Feb 1997

Vol. 475 No. 3

Written Answers. - Poultry Disease.

James Leonard

Question:

108 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the additional precautions, if any, which are being taken at his Department to safeguard poultry stock from the outbreak of Newcastle poultry disease in Northern Ireland. [4725/97]

Joe Walsh

Question:

112 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the measures, if any, he is taking to minimise the risk from Newcastle poultry disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4788/97]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 112 together.

There are currently eight confirmed outbreaks of Newcastle disease in poultry in Northern Ireland. Newcastle disease is a highly infectious disease, which affects poultry, pigeons and other birds. While it can cause a high level of mortality amongst poultry, it does not pose any human health risk.

Areas around the infected holdings have been declared infected areas and the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland has imposed movement restrictions, including prohibitions on export of poultry, hatching eggs and poultry products originating within these areas, as well as slaughtering those flocks affected.

No case of this disease has been confirmed to date, on this side of the Border, and in order to guard against its introduction, I have introduced the following additional measures for trade with Northern Ireland: all imports of poultry from Northern Ireland are now subject to an import licence issued by my Department; a supplementary health certification system for imports; additional controls have been put in place at the Border to ensure that no illegal movement of poultry, hatching eggs and poultry products takes place.

In addition a voluntary scheme of vaccination using inactivitated and live combination vaccines has been introduced. The vaccine is available on prescription at the request of a veterinary surgeon.

I have also arranged for the issue to all flock owners and producers of an advice notice outlining the precautions to be taken and an information sheet on the clinical signs of the disease in order to aid them to protect their flocks.

I would urge all involved in the poultry industry to show increased vigilance and would emphasise to producers in particular the need to be careful not to but stock from Northern Ireland without the proper veterinary certification.

I am hopeful that the measures outlined above, taken in concert with sensible sound flock, security, strict hygiene and isolation controls will ensure this disease does not enter the State