Jim O'Keeffe
Question:15 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the extent to which the foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom continues to pose a problem for Ireland. [9129/01]
Written Answers. - Foot and Mouth Disease.
I am extremely con cerned about the foot and mouth situation in Great Britain. The number of cases now exceeds 700 and continues to rise. The disease has spread rapidly there and a comparison with its spread in 1967 shows that the disease has already covered a much larger area than in 1967, when outbreaks were confined to the north Wales border area and to adjoining counties.
The problem there has deteriorated to the extent that the UK yesterday received permission from the European Commission to engage in a limited vaccination programme for cattle. Its intention is to vaccinate cattle in parts of Devon and Cumbria while continuing with the culling of sheep. Many of these cattle would have been housed over the winter period. While the vaccination of cattle in the United Kingdom is not of significance in so far as exports are concerned, given its pre-existing BSE related export ban, this would not be the case were such a policy to be adopted in Ireland given our reliance on export outlets. Nevertheless, this move by the UK is a clear indicator of the gravity of the situation there.
For this reason, the situation in Great Britain will continue to be a dangerous overhang for some considerable time after this island is once again free of foot and mouth disease. For so long as this is the case, we will need to maintain a state of alert and to ensure that measures to prevent the spread of the disease are implemented with the same degree of vigour with which they have been up to now. In this regard the expert committee which I have established under the chairmanship of Professor Michael Monaghan, the dean of the faculty of veterinary medicine in UCD, will continue to evaluate the controls in place on the basis of an analysis of the risks, and to make recommendations in relation to any adjustments which might be required in the light of prevailing circumstances.
Question:
16 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of times veterinary inspections took place at the farm at Jenkinstown, County Louth where foot and mouth disease was discovered prior to any suspect cases being identified; when it was suspected that the sheep were manifesting signs of foot and mouth disease; when samples were taken from suspected animals and sent for examination; when the slaughter of these animals took place; when disposal of the stock took place; if he has satisfied himself with the speed of the response to the suspected cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9294/01]
The Rice farm at Jenkinstown, County Louth had been inspected on Friday, 16 March 2001, and was found to be clear of the symptoms of foot and mouth disease.
On Tuesday afternoon, 20 March 2001, a veterinary inspector visited the farm again and became suspicious of some signs of foot and mouth being present in sheep. Later that evening samples were taken and they were sent for examination the following morning. Later that night the suspected animals were slaughtered.
Test results from Pirbright Reference Laboratory in the UK were received on the morning of Thursday, 22 March and they confirmed two results as positive thereby confirming foot and mouth in the flock. The sheep were buriedin situ on that day.
The remainder of the animals on the farm, which comprises seven holdings, was slaughtered and all of the animals were disposed of by Friday afternoon, 23 March.
I am fully satisfied that swift action was taken following the identification of suspect symptoms, that the necessary precautions were put in place and sound procedures were followed.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:17 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he is satisfied that all possible measures have been taken to isolate the outbreak of foot and mouth disease here; if all necessary measures have been put in place to contain the problem; if efforts are being made to trace its precise origin; if disposal of carcasses is proceeding in an efficient, effective and safe fashion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9248/01]
I am satisfied that the disposal of carcasses is proceeding in an efficient and safe manner. All animals are subjected to a clinical examination prior to slaughter and only then are they slaughtered in a disused slaughter plant within the one kilometre zone. Once the animals are dead they no longer breathe virus.
They are then disinfected, loaded on a leak proof vehicle which is covered tightly with a tarpaulin, sent for rendering in the nearest available rendering plant and ultimately for incineration. The rendering plant in question is, for the present, dedicated to this function; stringent disinfection procedures, involving the carcasses, vehicles and the slaughter and rendering plants are followed at all stages of the process. I am satisfied that every precaution is being taken and that the procedure in place is the best available, both in terms of preventing the spread of the disease and in terms of ensuring that farmers whose holdings are affected are not subjected to the trauma of seeing their animals destroyed on farm.