Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 1

Adjournment Debate. - Restrictions on Sale of Livestock.

Mr. Dukes

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this matter with the Minister. There is an enormous mismatch building up on farms as regards resources and needs. There are many dairy farms carrying young stock they would not normally carry at this time. There are also a great many suckler farms which are carrying livestock they would not normally carry, and there are many other farms which at this time of year would normally be selling yearlings but which are now carrying that stock.

On dairy and suckler farms the stock are eating what would be normally the first crop of silage for this year, which will prejudice the ability of those farms to carry stock through the winter. There are people in restricted areas who have cattle and sheep which should have been sold and slaughtered at various times over the past eight weeks. However, those animals, which are still on farms and must be fed and cared for, are now losing condition. When it is finally possible to sell them they will be worth a great deal less than normal.

I do not know the Minister's view on the situation facing us in the beef and sheep sectors, but many on this side of the House and in the farming sector feel we are faced with a very bad period in terms of markets. I am sure the Minister agrees. This will exacerbate the difficulties faced by people who have been unable to get animals off their farms when they were in the proper condition to be marketed.

In these circumstances we must examine the possibility which may exist to allow some resumption of normal trading in livestock. I know there are risks. The expert committee that advises the Minister believes there are risks, a view shared by him. However, I want to see a public and realistic assessment of those risks, which vary from zero risk to risks we should clearly avoid. In terms of zero risk, it is clear that animals on a farm which is clear of foot and mouth can be moved without constituting a risk to other susceptible animals.

I contend there is no risk in moving livestock from a disease free farm to farms where currently there are no livestock, and more so to farms where there has been no livestock since before the first outbreak of foot and mouth in England. If livestock can be moved from a farm where there is a shortage of feed to one where there is a shortage of animals to use the feed available, then it is not a risk and we should allow movement. If it is possible to find farms where there is not any risk, where there is not any disease, where on one side there is an over-abundance of livestock and on the other a shortage, then it seems that is a situation of very low risk. After that we can imagine a whole series of scenarios where the risk increases. I would like to see, in public, some evidence that that range of possibilities is being considered. I heard this evening as I was returning here from a meeting with farmers in the Cooley peninsula that the expert committee had looked at this and decided this was not yet the time, without any further explanation.

A great many farmers in the Cooley peninsula have been restricted and have livestock on their farms that would have been ready for slaughter many times in the past eight weeks. They are now unable to move the stock. I want the Minister to consider putting in place, between now and the end of June – the end of the purchase for destruct scheme – a system under which livestock from farms in that area can be prioritised under that scheme so that we can at least save part of the income those farmers would normally have generated over recent months.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

I thank Deputy Dukes and his colleagues who put their names to this motion, which is an important one. Earlier today I announced a number of adjustments to the foot and mouth disease restrictions. These will be of some help to farmers. The adjustments address at least some of the concerns expressed by Deputies here tonight.

Before dealing with the specific issues raised by the Deputies, I will briefly describe the position in Ireland as of today. The first outbreak of foot and mouth disease took place in Proleek, County Louth on 22 March. That is 40 days ago. The reason for nervousness in the Department and among the expert group is that in Northern Ireland, two outbreaks occurred after 44 days without one. It will be still some days yet before we can relax a number of the restrictions. It is good news that we have reached a number of deadlines without a further outbreak, particularly in the context of County Louth farmers because they made the greatest sacrifice for the country as a whole. If there is any way we can be of assistance to them we will. I will consider Deputy Dukes's suggestion that they should be given priority under the purchase for destruct scheme to see if it would be helpful to them.

However, it is essential that we continue to be cautious. There is still some tracing to be done in relation to animals that came into the jurisdiction, albeit before 21 February. Some conclusions have yet to be reached. The Garda Síochána and a special unit in the Department are still following a number of leads. As well as that, 65 flocks are at present restricted as a precautionary measure around different parts of the country. Results from Pirbright are awaited in respect of suspect animals in Watergrasshill, County Cork, Dunleer, County Louth and in north County Leitrim. The situation is still high risk. In Northern Ireland and Great Britain the situation remains extremely serious.

I accept that the time has come to review controls based on the best scientific advice. Today's announcements will be helpful. They are measured and of a cautious nature. From tomorrow, 2 May, stock bulls can be transported from one holding to another for breeding purposes, and movements of cattle between fragments of the same holding under a variety of circumstances and without a distance limitation will be allowed. There was a 10 kilometres limitation up to now. The movement of cattle from feed lots will be allowed from 9 May. A number of other restrictions relating to tourism and some cultural activities have also been lifted. In particular, some visitor centres have been opened to the public.

For the present, I do not consider it appropriate to relax the movement of sheep. Nor do I consider it appropriate to allow farm to farm movement of animals generally. Deputy Dukes suggested that where there are not susceptible animals and no disease on a holding it poses no risk. It is impossible to say that, because the disease is of a silent nature, particularly in sheep where the symptoms are not well pronounced. In the case in Proleek in north Louth, veterinary inspectors called on a Friday to the flock and did not find any signs whatever but, on Monday, there was full-blown foot and mouth disease there. It is an extremely difficult disease to detect. That is why, after nine weeks of very considerable sacrifice by many people, recklessness in lifting controls now would be a pity. It is well worth while to keep general movement under review. I will ask the expert group to meet again early next week and, all going well between now and then, we should be able to allow some additional relaxation of controls.

The expert group meet regularly with representatives of farming organisations and go through the detail with them. Farm leaders have a good understanding of the need to be cautious in relation to movement generally.