Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 7

Written Answers. - Quarantine Regulations.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

52 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the proposals by the United Kingdom Government to replace quarantine rules by a system of pet passports using micro chips to show that pets have been vaccinated; the consultations, if any, he has had with the United Kingdom Government in view of very extensive holiday and other traffic between the two islands; and the plans, if any, he has to change the existing quarantine system. [9685/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The report of the advisory group on quarantine, established by the UK Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, recommended in September 1998 that, for cats and dogs travelling between Great Britain and the member states of the European Union, the European economic area or rabies free islands, the quarantine system should be replaced by a system involving vaccination, blood testing, identification and certification. Following a period of public consultation, these recommendations have been accepted by the UK Government. The UK Agriculture Minister recently announced the objective of bringing new arrangements into operation throughout the UK by April 2001 and the intention of running a pilot scheme or schemes within the next twelve months. Various aspects of the operation and implementation of the new arrangements have yet to be settled.

Given the common approach to rabies adopted by both Ireland and the UK over a period of many years, any changes which might be made to the UK system of quarantine controls would have a potentially significant impact on Ireland. I have now initiated a review of our rabies control system and a process of consultation with other Ministers and in due course with agencies, organisations and professional representative bodies likely to have an interest in this matter is under way. I will, in due course, make specific recom mendations to Government in relation to the approach which Ireland should adopt.

My Department is maintaining very close liaison with the UK Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on this issue and officials are participating in the project board established in the UK to provide input to consideration of changes to the current system in the UK.