Written Answers. - Animal Health.
Dan Boyle
Question:
92
Mr. Boyle
asked the
Minister for Agriculture and Food
the position regarding the investigations involving his Department and other agencies into the long running and traumatic saga of farm animals in Askeaton becoming ill and dying; and the effect this has had on the animals themselves as well as on the wider community in the area.
[29329/03]
Emmet Stagg
Question:
99
Mr. Stagg
asked the
Minister for Agriculture and Food
the reason safety and toxicity testing on products derived from animals in the Askeaton area of County Limerick were not requested to be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29212/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 99 together.
As part of the multi-agency investigations carried out from 1995 to 1998, samples from products on farms in the area were analysed for a wide range of potentially toxic substances. The results of these analyses are presented in the 1995 interim report on the investigation of animal health problems at Askeaton, County Limerick. Neither the analysis of these results nor data from other components of the investigation – environmental quality, soil, herbage, feed and water – indicated a pattern of exposure to toxic components.
Detailed monitoring of animal health was also carried out on a number of farms during a two-year period. Blood, milk and other samples were collected as required to investigate specific animal health or production issues and post-mortem investigations and analyses were also undertaken on any animal carcases from these farms submitted to my Department's regional veterinary laboratory in Limerick.
The overall conclusion of the Askeaton animal health investigation, as published in the final report in 2001, was that there was no evidence that animal health or production on any of the participating farms were subject to unusual, adverse influences during the periods of observation. I would emphasise the fact that the Askeaton investigation was an entirely science-based exercise and the conclusions contained in the final report were formed on the basis of analysis of the evidence gathered by and available to the various participating agencies during the period of the investigation itself.
No additional checks on milk or meat products, including feeding trials, were deemed necessary based on the findings of the animal health aspects of the investigation. However, all such products originating from these farms would have been subjected to the normal food hygiene controls at the processing intake points.
There is no objective evidence available to my Department to suggest that there has been a deterioration in general animal health in the area since the final report was published. On that basis I do not believe that there are grounds which would justify embarking on further animal health investigation in the area or the further commitment of significant human and financial resources which this would imply. Where individual problems occur, as they do from time to time on farms throughout the country, the veterinary laboratory service of my Department is available to support local veterinary practitioners and their clients and this will remain the case. The Limerick regional veterinary office has been authorised to carry out tests free of charge for farmers in the Askeaton area where the farmer's private veterinary practitioner considers such tests warranted.
