Vol. 556 No. 5
21 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has explored the possibility of compatible animal identification systems, compatible surveillance programmes and control for animal diseases such as brucellosis, tuberculosis and salmonellosis on an all-Ireland basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20840/02]
Considerable progress towards the development of an all-Ireland animal health strategy has been made under the auspices of the North-South Ministerial Council. At its meeting in September, the council endorsed a paper setting out the scope for convergence of animal health policies North and South and agreed that officials should seek to finalise discussions with the British authorities in advance of a final agreement of a strategy by the end of the year. The strategy covers the development of a common approach and policies in the areas of animal identification and tracing, disease surveillance, disease control, veterinary medicines, animal welfare and imports of animals and animal products onto the island of Ireland. Currently the detailed issues are being taken forward at official level by a number of policy working groups.
