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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 1

Written Answers. - Ovine Disease Eradication.

John McGuinness

Question:

84 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the plans in place to assist farmers in dealing with scrapie; the advice or assistance which has been given to farmers regarding the removal of ewes before lambing begins; if contact has been made with a person (details supplied) in County Carlow in an effort to clarify the situation and give advice. [31289/01]

Scrapie has been present in sheep here for some 200 years and there is a low incidence of it in Ireland. However, it is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy Notwithstanding the lack of scientific evidence linking it to BSE or CJD in humans its profile has increased among consumers in recent times.

Against a background of a level of consumer concern about TSEs generally, and in order to maintain the high reputation of Irish sheepmeat, I have decided to restrict and depopulate flocks which have had a case of scrapie since 1 January 1999. These flocks will not be permitted to repopulate for a period of two years after depopulation. Other flocks which have a history of scrapie are being examined and may also be slaughtered out.

Following restriction of the flocks in question my Department was asked by the IFA to enter into discussions on the details of a compensation package on the basis that the IFA represented the flockowners in question. The approach maintained by my Department throughout such discussions has been to facilitate early depopulation of the flocks in question by offering a package which encompasses compensation for the market value of each depopulated flock and for loss of profit over subsequent years. This package also addresses a number of other concerns expressed by the flockowners through the IFA. As a State aid it will also be necessary that such a package be cleared by the EU Commission, in which regard the question of whether the compensation envisaged is objectively reasonable will be of key importance. Discussions with the IFA on the compensation package concluded on 21 November and the precise details of the package were confirmed to the IFA in a letter dated 27 November. It was understood that the content of this letter was to be promulgated among all of the flockowners in question by the IFA. It is a matter for each flockowner to decide whether he or she wishes to accept the Department's offer.
The Department is conscious of the pressures on the flockowners in question given that their flocks have been restricted for some time. Even before the recent round of discussions on all elements of a compensation package got under way, and in response to an approach by the IFA on behalf of certain named flockowners, the Department offered to arrange for the urgent depopulation of these lambs at rates proposed by and subsequently agreed with the IFA. Surprisingly, none of the particular flockowners concerned has to date availed of this offer.
As for the individual referred to in the Deputy's question, in the event that he is not aware of the offer made to IFA I am arranging for him to be contacted with details of the compensation package on offer.
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