Vol. 482 No. 8
16 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of net restricted herds in the country as a result of brucellosis; whether Ireland's officially brucellosis free status is being endangered; his views on the increase in brucellosis; and the steps, if any, he is taking to ensure the incidence of the disease is minimised. [19537/97]
I apologise for the absence of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Walsh, who is at a Council of Ministers' meeting in Brussels.
I congratulate Deputy Coveney on his appointment as spokesperson on Agriculture. He continues to track me both in private and public life. Twenty years ago we were both involved in the commercial world when he was president of the Cork Chamber of Commerce at a time of difficult urban-rural relations. He, as an urban man, and I, as a rural person, proposed an initiative to bring urban and rural people together at business level. We can look back on that as a great success. No doubt through working together he, my colleagues and I will improve the agricultural sector.
At 1 November 1997, 323 brucellosis infected herds were restricted in accordance with the requirements of trading, Directive 64/432. A number of other herds were restricted as a precautionary measure under national rules. I have been concerned for a variety of reasons at the increased incidence of this disease. Following consultation with the Animal Health Forum, I have taken a series of measures and initiatives to address the problem. These include the following: undertaking milk ring testing on lactating cattle on a monthly basis as opposed to the previous arrangement whereby four tests were carried out at six weekly intervals in the period April to September; an awareness-education programme directed specifically at farmers, focused mainly on promoting effective herd management and health protection practices including prudent buying from reliable sources — an advice pack outlining the essential measures required to protect their herds was sent to all herd owners in September; detailed epidemiological investigations by my Department's veterinary inspectors into brucellosis breakdowns; and a major revamping of the compensation regime aimed at encouraging farmers to purchase eligible cattle from reliable sources, confine purchases to cattle which have passed brucellosis blood tests within the previous 60 days in the herds from which they are bought and test such cattle again within 30 days of purchase. Full details of the compensation changes were forwarded to each herd owner by post.
In view of the continuing determination in this situation, I am satisfied further measures are now required to combat the disease. I will meet farming and veterinary interests on Thursday next in the Animal Health Forum. Following this, I will decide on any further measures to be introduced.
I thank the Minister for his opening statements. We worked together before either of us entered public life but I am not sure whether we benefited from that. In any event, I am happy to work with him again and I wish him well too.
This question is of such importance I must press the Minister on it. It was very specific. It was whether Ireland's officially brucellosis free status is being endangered. My only source of information is the Irish Farmers' Journal, last week's issue of which included a precise detailed county by county report which came up with a figure of 296 for net restricted herds. This number is so close to the limit that by now, for all I know, it may have been exceeded. I do not want to exaggerate the implications of that — the Minister knows them better than I.
The question of the need to introduce unpopular measures, such as pre-movement testing, has arisen and I note the Minister will meet the interested parties on Thursday. If that trend in restricted herds were to continue, it is almost unnecessary for me to tell the Minister that the consequences are so serious that unpopular measures would have to be taken. We cannot allow our brucellosis free status to be eroded under any circumstances after all the cattle business has been through. Will the Minister comment on the seriousness of the situation? Are we at the point of endangering Ireland's brucellosis free status?
There is no denying the fact that the situation is serious and deteriorating. That is the reason the Animal Health Forum is meeting next Thursday. Prior to 1996, the incidence of brucellosis was relatively stable. In 1995, just 189 herds were restricted. In 1996, 313 herds were restricted at year end. Approximately 57 of these herds had two or more clear tests but as a precaution they were held for further testing, leaving 256 herds restricted under EU legislation. As a sizeable number of herds had just one reactor, that position was not cause for concern. The most recent data at 1 November indicates that approximately 323 herds are restricted under EU legislation. New herd breakdowns are computed at 681. A total of 224 herds have been depopulated to date in 1997. The spend on brucellosis compensation is significant. Approximately £8 million has been spent to the end of October 1997 compared to approximately £4.7 million in October 1996. This equates to an increase of 66.8 per cent.
The Deputy asked me a specific question about the pre-movement tests. If it is necessary, and it appears it will be necessary but it is a matter for the Animal Health Forum, pre-movement tests of the order of 30 days will be put in place in addition to any other measures that are necessary. My Department and the Minister will not stand back from the problem as we realise the seriousness of it.
Whatever the Minister decides to do in consultation with the other interests will have our support because this is a serious matter which must be dealt with quickly and decisively.
May I ask the Minister of State a question?
No, Deputy O'Flynn. These are priority questions that can only be asked by the Deputies who have tabled them. These questions will continue until 3.40 p.m. when it will be in order for the Deputy to come in.
