Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 4

Written Answers. - Bovine Diseases.

Dan Neville

Question:

127 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will retain ownership of a farm (details supplied) in County Limerick and all its stock for the duration of the investigation into the possibilities that bovine animals are or have been affected by the same cause of the disease recently diagnosed in horses on the adjoining farm. [20096/98]

Dan Neville

Question:

128 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if signs of multiple eosinophilic granulomata have been found in tissues in any post mortem in animals involved in the official investigation into animal health problems to date. [20097/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 128 together.

My Department purchased this farm and has recently sold part of it. This has not affected animal health investigations on the farm, which are now being finalised. No final decisions have yet been taken in relation to the disposal of the remainder of the lands. It has always been the Department's intention to dispose of the farm and most of the stock once the requirements of the animal health investigations had been fulfilled and this remains the case.

As regards the condition referred to by the Deputy, I understand that lesions of multiple eosinophilic granulomata were found in a six month old bovine from another farm in the area which was diagnosed as suffering from a chronic viral infection. The lesions were attributed to parasites. As part of the overall animal health investigations and having regard to the findings of the recent scientific report already mentioned in the Dáil, I have arranged to have these lesions, and also tissues from a range of similar conditions, investigated for the presence of aluminium. As regards future investigations, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 91 and 101 of 6 October last.