Vol. 485 No. 4
12 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the new technology for the identification of BSE in meat carcases; his views on the positive contribution it could make to the quality assurance of our beef, both to customers at home and abroad; the cost of this technology; and the discussions, if any, he has held with the meat processing industry and other interested parties in this regard. [23186/97]
35 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of cases of BSE detected to date in 1997; the way in which this compares with the same period in 1996; the plans, if any, his Department has for the introduction of the Enfer test which, it is reported, can establish within two and a half hours whether BSE is present in a dead animal, in view of the need to reassure consumers regarding the safety of Irish beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23211/97]
37 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will give details of the initiatives, if any, he is taking to help those who are currently developing a test to detect BSE in animals prior to slaughter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23354/97]
38 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans, if any, he has to compel farmers to undergo a diagnostic test for BSE prions in beef carcases which will allow meat to be sold with a test certificate similar to the test validated recently by the veterinary research laboratory at Abbotsown. [23337/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 35, 37 and 38 together.
Up to end November 1997, 70 cases of BSE were detected in Ireland compared to 62 cases during the same period last year. By way of comparison, the number of cases confirmed for the period July-November 1997 was 33 compared with 49 for the same period in 1996. In addition, the number of cases in November 1997 was five compared to 18 during the same month in 1996. I have already outlined on previous occasions the stringent controls which are in place in Ireland to ensure the safety of Irish beef which go beyond those recommended by the relevant international organisations. These include the depopulation of herds in which a case of BSE is confirmed and the removal of specified risk material from all carcases after slaughter. This risk material is then disposed of under strict conditions.
The Enfer test referred to is a commercial test involving a post-mortem diagnostic method for detecting BSE and is based on the measurement of the disease specific prion protein. It employs an ELISA protocol and its unique feature is a novel method of binding the prion protein to the surface of an ELISA plate. The veterinary research laboratory of my Department participated in the validation of the test and the results obtained showed excellent discrimination between negatives and positives. The major advantages of the rest are that it can give a much more rapid result than the existing histopathological and immunohistochemical methods and it has the potential to be fully automated. I understand that the company concerned is currently gearing up to providing the test on a commercial basis. The cost of the test will be a commercial decision for the company itself.
This test and some others that are being validated elsewhere have the potential to make a positive contribution to providing additional reassurance as to the safety of beef. The question as to whether the test will provide any additional benefits to the beef industry in its commercial dealings is primarily a matter for the industry itself. At this stage, I do not have any plans to introduce the test on a compulsory basis over and above those controls already in place in Ireland as far as BSE is concerned. I will, however, keep the position under review.
13 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of outbreaks of bovine brucellosis detected in Irish herds to date in 1997; if new testing procedures will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23208/97]
55 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the high incidence of brucellosis in the north Kerry area; the measures, if any, he will take to address the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23212/97]
61 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps, if any, he has taken to ensure that Ireland will not exceed the level of brucellosis in the national herd which would cost the State its official brucellosis free status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23182/97)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 55 and 61 together.
There have been 758 new brucellosis herd breakdowns up to 30 November 1997. At the same date, some 461 herds were restricted, of which 320 were restricted under EU legislation. While infection levels have shown a relative increase in Limerick, north Kerry, north Cork and Tipperary, there have been brucellosis breakdowns in most counties in 1997. At the same time, it must be borne in mind that close to 99.8 per cent of the country's 150,000 herds are currently brucellosis free under EU rules. It is essential, for a variety of reasons, that the necessary measures are taken both to protect the status of herds and to curtail and eradicate brucellosis from the national herd.
