As soon as the foot and mouth disease outbreak in the UK became known, my Department put in place a comprehensive series of precautionary measures across a wide range of areas to help combat the threat of the disease. This was done in co-operation with other Departments and agencies and senior officials from my Department are playing an active role, on an ongoing basis, in the high level task force set up by the Government under the chairmanship of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. A number of general measures were immediately taken. Disinfection mats were provided at the entrances to departmental offices and all non-essential meetings involving travel to and from Northern Ireland were cancelled.
On the forestry side, all site inspections by forestry inspectors have been suspended since 27 February. My Department is currently in discussion with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development on this issue in the context of the expert group's recommendations. This group was set up by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development to advise on limited relaxation of initial measures taken to combat the spread of the disease within Ireland. In the meantime, inspections of Coillte roads and reconstruction sites continue on the strict understanding that such visits do not involve entering on to or crossing any farm land. All forestry contractors and consultants have been advised in writing that, when entering and leaving farms, they and their machinery should be thoroughly disinfected.
Preventing entry of the disease from the UK is the primary concern. In relation to commercial seaports, all the port companies and harbour authorities have put in place appropriate disinfection, notification procedures and preventative measures in strict accordance with Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development advice. My officials are also in ongoing direct communication with the seaports and relevant shipping companies to assist the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development in monitoring the situation on the ground in our own ports and relevant seaports in the UK and France. In this context, my Department is in regular contact with UK Departments with a view to ensuring that all measures are taken to disinfect persons and vehicles leaving the UK for Ireland. Precautionary measures were also put into place at the five fishery harbour centres managed by my Department.
My Department, in consultation with the Departments of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and the Environment and Local Government, as well as the Customs and Excise, is developing a long-term plan to ensure an adequate arrangement is in place to deal with all the potential entry points at small piers, landing places, mooring buoys, etc., where yachts and other small leisure craft may enter when the tourist angling season starts.
In relation to mining activity, I have requested all holders of prospecting licences to refrain from fieldwork and have deferred contract works entailing field visits in agricultural lands.
Additional informationSteps have also been taken in the area of aquaculture. The industry has been told that movements of fish within the country must be kept to an absolute minimum and consignments must be accompanied by authorisation from my Department.
In the case of angling, I made a by-law prohibiting angling nationwide with effect from 3 March. While this measure was consistent with the overall precautionary approach adopted by the Government, I was nevertheless aware that this restriction placed a considerable burden on the angling sector, which is particularly vulnerable due to the niche nature of many enterprises. At the earliest opportunity, therefore, my Department sought the advice of the expert group in relation to foot and mouth disease controls. On 16 March my Department received the recommendations of the expert group, which allow for the lifting of the legal prohibition on angling with effect from 23 March. My Department is issuing guidelines which will be applicable to all involved in the angling sector from 23 March.
Angling activity may resume from 23 March subject to non-entry onto agricultural land to which animals susceptible to the disease may have had access since 1 February 2001. It is hoped this easing of the restrictions will allow for the resumption of ordinary angling activity in many cases, in particular lake and sea angling. Unfortunately, however, it remains the case that visiting anglers from the UK and other infected areas should be discouraged. I will continue to monitor the need for, and effect of, the current restrictions in consultation with my Government colleagues and with the advice of the expert group.