Brendan Howlin
Question:60 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of times the expert group on foot and mouth now meets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18804/01]
Written Answers. - Expert Group Meetings.
In response to the emerging foot and mouth disease crisis I established on 9 March the expert advisory group on foot and mouth disease controls. I asked the group to consider the extensive range of controls already in place at that time and to make recommendations to me as to how these might be adapted as the crisis developed. The group held its first meeting on 12 March and has met on ten other occasions since then. It immediately drew up a set of general recommendations which were accepted by me and which included guidelines for highest risk groups and the introduction of controls to allow low risk events such as meetings and sporting events to recommence. Special advice was also given by the group in relation to travel to and from foot and mouth disease infected areas.
At successive meetings the basic set of recommendations were adapted to meet the evolving situation. In addition, a series of stringent protocols were drawn up by the group on the basis of risk assessment techniques and accepted by me, which provided for the resumption of activities such as horse racing. In addition, agriculture related activities, such as the use of marts as assembly centres for animals going for slaughter and the resumption of a strictly controlled AI service, were introduced on the recommendation of the group. Agreement was also reached with the public utilities on protocols for the resumption of their work on agricultural land.
Special attention was paid to the hard pressed tourism sector and protocols drawn up which allowed for the resumption of rural tourism and activities which involved access to agricultural land, such as hill walking. During this period representatives of the group met with all interested parties and responded, where the level of risk allowed, at all times with practical protocols which provided for a gradual resumption of everyday activities.
Gradually as the risk from the foot and mouth virus has receded, the expert group has recommended and I have accepted a continuing easing of controls which have been of tremendous practical benefit to the farming community. Most recently marts have reopened for trade in cattle with some necessary restrictions which the group recommended as appropriate. I have found the recommendations sent to me by the expert group to be soundly based and practical, reflecting the high level of technical and professional expertise of its membership. It has earned the respect of all the major stakeholders in the agriculture sectors and in all sectors with which it came into contact. Most importantly, its recommendations have worked in practice. Ireland has experienced only one outbreak of foot and mouth disease and successfully contained it. I would like to put on record my thanks to the expert group for the key role it played in the tremendous national response to the foot and mouth disease crisis. The work of the group is not yet concluded. It will meet later this week to consider some remaining control measures, including cattle and sheep movement.