Michael Ring
Question:69 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he has made known to the general public all information held within his Department regarding the BSE issue. [1477/01]
Vol. 530 No. 5
69 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he has made known to the general public all information held within his Department regarding the BSE issue. [1477/01]
Education and training of all those who may be involved with BSE is vitally important and my Department has been actively involved in this. In relation to the dissemination of information of BSE to farmers, veterinarians, slaughterhouse workers and butchers, my Department has done its utmost to ensure that all those involved in the industry are well informed. Information leaflets have been made available for distribution to farmers at marts. In addition my Department has produced a video on BSE which is available to veterinary surgeons. The video has also been distributed to all veterinary officials in meat factories, and to factory management, who have been advised to show it to all staff involved in the selection of animals for slaughter. Copies of the video have also been distributed to local authority veterinary inspectors who have responsibility for controls at local authority abattoirs. My Department has made strenuous efforts to keep all of those involved in the industry fully informed and I will continue to treat the provision of appropriate information to those who need it as a priority.
My Department has always dealt with the issue of BSE in as open and transparent manner and has provided information through replies in this House, the Department's website and of course the media on a regular basis. I have already acknowledged the absolute necessity of maintaining public confidence in the beef industry and I have no doubt that the best way to this is to provide the most up to date information available in relation to the controls we implement and in relation to the incidence of the disease in Ireland. I am happy, therefore, to continue to keep the public and the media fully informed in relation to this disease, as I have up to now. The Deputy will be aware that I recently to make available to the media on a weekly basis the relevant BSE statistics which were formerly provided on a monthly basis.