Vol. 514 No. 6
84 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will comment on the BSE figures for 1999 which indicated the highest number of BSE cases on record; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5044/00]
The Deputy will be aware that the incidence of BSE in Ireland is extremely low. In 1999 a total of 95 animals were confirmed as having BSE from a national herd of close to eight million cattle. This compares with a total of 83 BSE cases confirmed in 1998.
While it is regrettable that the overall numbers were higher in 1999, there are positive indications as regards this disease, in particular, that the age profile of animals infected with BSE is increasing. Fewer animals under five years of age are being detected each year and in 1999 none of the infected animals was less than four years of age.
I assure the Deputy that my Department is operating a comprehensive range of measures, which have been reviewed on numerous occasions by the EU Commission's food and veterinary office, for the eradication and control of BSE and will continue to treat this as a top priority, given its importance in terms of public health and consumer confidence in our beef industry, at home and abroad.
