Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 3

Written Answers - Bovine Diseases.

Ivor Callely

Question:

105 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of BSE cases here to date; the number of such cases where concerns were identified and prosecutions followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13936/01]

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

Since BSE was diagnosed in Ireland in 1989, there have been a total of 631 confirmed cases. A total of 51 cases were confirmed to date this year.

Once a suspect animal is confirmed as being BSE positive various checks are undertaken to seek to establish the cause of the disease. As a matter of routine, the ear tags of the animals concerned are sent to the forensic science laboratory for examination. If necessary the special investigation unit of my Department is called in to investigate the case.

To date there has been one successful prosecution in a case where a farmer deliberately introduced an infected animal into his herd in an attempt to obtain depopulation compensation payments. A further case is scheduled to come before the courts later this year and another case is with the DPP.

A number of other cases are currently under investigation but it is too early to say whether they will be referred to the DPP.