Vol. 533 No. 5
6 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if, in view of the foot and mouth crisis and the BSE crisis, he has any proposals for the establishment of an epidemiological research centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9290/01]
To facilitate research on the epidemiology of BSE in Ireland, a steering group is being established under the aegis of my Department and with the agreement of the Department of Health and Children to deal specifically with research in this area. In addition to undertaking specific research projects, the group will be responsible for collation of all data relating to the BSE eradication programme. The group will also be responsible for the upkeep of an up to date collection of scientific material in relation to BSE and will provide briefing material in relation to the same.
It is envisaged that this group will undertake most of the required research directly. In addition, it is envisaged that appropriate external consultants will be recruited to provide specialist advice on particular projects. In other cases, where very specialised skills are required for a discrete project, it may be more appropriate to sub-contract the entire project to a person or group.
A management group will supervise all of the research, which will be responsible for commissioning, approving and auditing each research project. The expertise involved would also be available to undertake research and other work in relation to other diseases such as foot and mouth disease.
I thank the Minister for his reply and I am pleased to hear that a group is to be set up. In reply to a parliamentary question yesterday I was informed that it cost this country £48.5 million for BSE between 1990 and 2000. In the light of those costs would the Minister not consider it urgent to engage a consultant epidemioligist, even on a short-term basis? A question of more immediate concern is, would the Minister com ment on the recent report from the food safety agency in the UK in relation to the implications for Ireland and BSE? Will he ask that a consultant epidemiologist look at that report or will he comment on whether the Food Safety Authority has any view on it?
BSE has been a very costly disease to Ireland and to Europe and we have lessons to learn from it. One of the weaknesses in our system was the lack of research and the lack of up to date information on the transmission of the disease. The same happens in the case of foot and mouth disease because the virus behaves in a peculiar way. The best advice and research available through the OIE in Paris and the FAO in Rome and Brussels is at our disposal and yet there is difficulty in addressing the problem. With regard to BSE, we are now establishing this group and it is important that it is done now. A recent report suggested that Irish beef was more susceptible than British beef. That is nonsense and was so described in the response of the Food Safety Authority. All risk material is removed from Irish beef before it gets to the consumer and now only cattle less than 30 months are made available for human consumption.
