Foot and Mouth Disease: Statements.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Davern): I last updated the House on developments in relation to foot and mouth disease on 27 March. Since the beginning of the crisis the Government has adopted a policy of openness and transparency in relation to developments. Both Houses of the Oireachtas have received updates from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Deputy Walsh, and me on a regular basis. We are grateful for the Opposition's support for the Government's efforts to deal with this national crisis. It speaks well of politics in this country that when the chips are down all sides of the House recognise that some issues are, simply, too big to play politics with. Sectional interests must be set aside when the national interest is at stake.
I am pleased again to provide an update for the House on the most recent developments in relation to the disease. Since my last speech to the House, the news has been largely positive. We are by no means out of the woods yet and must continue to proceed with extreme caution. This morning's announcement by the North's Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Bríd Rodgers, that there is a new suspect case in Cookstown, County Tyrone, is a salutary lesson to those who suggest the problem is over. The suspected case is on a large dairy farm and I understand around 80% of 20 heifers examined showed symptoms suggestive of the disease, although the veterinary view appears to be that these symptoms might be attributable to another viral condition found in calves. The suspect holding is some considerable distance from the Border and I understand the 10 km surveillance zone will not traverse the Border into the South. Nevertheless, we anxiously await the results which are expected this evening.
My Department has built a close relationship with our Northern colleagues, both at ministerial and official level. I am sure the entire House will join me in hoping the result from Cookstown this evening will be negative. Senators are aware that a local authority abattoir in Bray, County Wicklow, has been closed because two lambs slaughtered yesterday were found, on post mortem examination, to display symptoms of the disease. Initial results on samples sent to Pirbright received today were negative. We have also received today final clear results from the case at the ICM plant in Navan.
We have had only one case of foot and mouth disease in this country. There has not been a further case since that in Proleek on 22 March. The three weeks since then, however, have not been without their tense moments. Senators will be aware that the negative test results from Camolin and Bunclody, County Wexford, and, most particularly, Piedmont on the Cooley Peninsula were greeted with a huge sigh of relief throughout the country not just from the farming community, but from all sectors of society, where people from all walks of life have made an enormous contribution to the effort to contain and eradicate foot and mouth disease. All those who have contributed to the tremendous effort to keep foot and mouth disease from spreading in this country deserve special mention and thanks.
Our gratitude must be accorded to sports organisations such as the GAA, the FAI and the IRFU which have cancelled games, the business and commercial organisations which have cancelled trade fairs and shows, members of the farming community who have strictly adhered to the guidelines laid down and ordinary members of the public. There is, however, another group of people who deserve special mention. It is a very small group who have made their own contribution to this national crisis. I am talking about the tiny minority of unscrupulous people, mainly dealers, who have betrayed this country, the people of Ireland, their neighbours and friends by flouting the health certification rules in place regarding international trade in live animals which successive Governments, in partnership with other member states of the European Union, have put in place to protect animal health, but, more importantly, human health. These are not just abstract concepts debated by bureaucrats in Europe; they are serious issues affecting real people in Ireland and elsewhere as the recent foot and mouth disease crisis and before it the BSE crisis have illustrated clearly. These issues affect ordinary people in their day-to-day lives and those who flout these rules are affecting the lives of these ordinary people just as surely as if they had perpetrated an act of physical violence directly on the individuals concerned. Any remaining loyalty to these unscrupulous people is misguided and those who have information on illegal activity must come forward, even at this late stage, to the authorities. It is their clear duty to do so for the sake of the health, well-being and future prosperity of their own children and those of their neighbours and friends and that of the national economy.
Let me focus on the potential impact on the national economy. The scale of what is at stake is considerable. In the United Kingdom, primary agriculture represents 0.8% of gross domestic product, 2% of employment and 4.6% of exports. In Ireland, primary agriculture is far more important to the economy, representing 3.5% of gross domestic product; 7.3% of employment and 5.6% of exports. These figures represent primary agriculture only. The food industry is also a major contributor to national wealth and employment in Ireland. Output from the industry currently stands at around £11 billion per annum, representing almost 25% of all industrial output. The industry provides direct employment for 40,000 people and accounts for 10.5% of total employment. In addition, it provides indirect employment for a further 280,000 people on farms and in sub-supply industries and ancillary services. Food and drink exports in 2000 were valued at £5.4 billion or 9.4% of total exports.
These figures, while impressive, do not tell the whole story. In terms of gross output, the industry accounts for almost 50% of indigenous manufacturing industry and, because it uses mainly native raw materials – it is estimated that its annual purchases of raw materials, labour and services represent over 70% of total sales – it is a significant contributor to our balance of payments position. Due largely to its geographical spread, the industry makes a particular and substantial contribution to agricultural and rural communities and because it is 90% Irish owned, its exports account for 27% of net foreign earnings.
The industry comprises over 700 companies and while some of these have become major international players, the vast majority are categorised as SMEs. The main components of the industry are the beef, dairy products-ingredients, other meats, prepared consumer foods and drinks sectors. A significant development within the industry in recent years has been the growth of the prepared consumer foods sector. Between 1993 and 1998, output from the sector increased from £797 million to £1.4 billion. This figure is expected to reach £2.6 billion by 2006. There is also a small, but important and growing speciality foods sector comprising some 200 companies, employing 1,500 people and with an annual output of £100 million. It is clear that the spread of foot and mouth disease would have a very serious impact on the sector.
The spread of the disease would have a knock-on effect on many other sectors, most notably the tourism sector which brings in over £3 billion annually in foreign exchange earnings and represents over 4% of GNP. The Minister indicated in the Dáil recently that if foot and mouth disease was not controlled and eradicated, the tourism industry would, almost certainly, collapse.
These are the stakes and this is the reason we must continue to proceed with caution. On a more positive note, it appears that work we have done to date has been effective and provided there are no further cases in this country in the meantime, the Commission decision imposing export restrictions on Ireland is due to expire on 19 April.
As I indicated in the House on 27 March, an expert group, under the chairmanship of Professor Michael Monaghan, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in UCD, has been established to review the controls in place on an ongoing basis. This group is continuing its work on the basis of an analysis of the risks and announcements have been made regarding a phased resumption of a variety of activities on a controlled basis and, in many cases, subject to strict protocols agreed by the expert group. Announcements have been made regarding the resumption of a variety of activities.
In particular, the group proposed an indicative timetable for the resumption of the transport of fodder to areas of shortage with immediate effect, subject to observance of the relevant disinfection procedures; the importation of horses from non-infected areas in countries other than Great Britain from 9 April, subject to permitting arrangements administered by my Department; the use, from 16 April, of marts as assembly centres for properly identified animals going directly for slaughter, subject to the agreement of a protocol with the mart groups; the resumption, from 19 April, of Al services, subject to a protocol agreed yesterday; the resumption of repopulation of herds affected by BSE or brucellosis, subject to the consideration of each case on its merits and the attendant risks; the resumption of horse racing on a limited basis from 16 April, subject to strict adherence to agreed protocols, and the normal fixture list from 19 April – point-to-point racing, however, is still not permitted; the resumption of greyhound racing from 19 April, subject to an agreed protocol; and St. Patrick's Day festivities will be allowed to proceed in mid-May.
In addition, the expert group yesterday revised its guidelines to the general public. These are available on my Department's website. Events such as horse racing, show jumping, greyhound racing and livestock shows which involve animals continue to pose the highest risk and restrictions will continue to apply, except where codes of practice have been agreed with my Department. Nevertheless, the group reviewed the 1 February date which had been included in its earlier reports. In the light of the current situation, it has now been recommended, and the Minister has accepted, that this aspect may be adjusted and that lands to which susceptible animals may have not had access in the last 28 days may now be accessed for a variety of events. A variety of other events, however, may proceed, subject to adherence to the recommendations laid down by the expert group.
Let me turn briefly to developments in Europe, particularly in the context of a prospective lifting of the Commission decision on Ireland of 19 April. The position in Great Britain continues to be critical and the fact that the rate of increase in the number of cases has slowed in recent days is of little comfort to the farming community there. The horrifying scenes of funeral pyres and mass burials will leave an indelible imprint on a whole generation of farmers and their children who will carry the tradition of farming in the next generation. Yesterday there were 37 new cases, the highest number of additional cases for a number of days, bringing the total to 1,200 cases. Recent evidence that the movement of people may have been a factor in the spread of the disease highlights the necessity of maintaining our vigilance at ports and airports, and those who must travel to the United Kingdom should strictly adhere to the guidelines laid down by the expert group. We must continue to be on guard in the face of mounting pressure to relax controls over the coming weeks.
In France the prognosis appears reasonably good and no new cases have been identified for some time. I am extremely concerned, however, about developments in the Netherlands, where two new cases were identified yesterday, bringing the total to 22. That country covers an area little larger than Munster and has a population exceeding 15 million people. The remarkable efficiencies of the Dutch economy and the intensive nature of their agricultural development will not assist in the fight against this disease. It is difficult to predict anything other than further cases in this extremely densely populated country. I am aware that Germany is extremely concerned about developments in the Netherlands, in particular because the border between the two countries is an intensively farmed livestock area.
All this goes to show that the fallout from this crisis will continue to occupy Governments throughout Europe for some considerable time to come. This is most certainly true of this Government and we will continue to stress the absolute need for vigilance until the United Kingdom is declared free of foot and mouth disease, regardless of what happens here or in Northern Ireland between now and 19 April. As to when the United Kingdom authorities will succeed in eradicating foot and mouth disease is a matter of speculation.
There is no doubt that when the dust settles from this crisis, some valuable lessons will have been learned. The need for improved animal traceability has been highlighted and the House will be aware that new arrangements are being put in place for the tagging of sheep. On 2 April my ministerial colleague, Deputy Walsh, outlined the principal elements of the national sheep identification system, NSIS, which is to come into operation in May. That will involve the tagging of all animals moved off farms from May and from the national flock before the end of the year. It will encompass producers, marts, meat factories and others involved in the sheep sector and will provide for traceability from farm of origin through to the eventual carcase. To meet this objective, not alone will producers be required to tag their sheep but meat factories will be required to link the individual tag number to the number of the finished carcase and to satisfy themselves as to the provenance of any animals which they purchase. Separately, arrangements have been made for the regulation of dealers in animals and poultry and this will help to restrict the activities of rogue dealers who are detrimental to legitimate trade.
In addition, significant legislation, the Diseases of Animals (Amendment) Act, 2001, was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas in recent weeks, although a colleague from my county called it draconian. In light of today's events and given the information that is not being received from those people concerned and their lack of co-operation, that legislation is not draconian; it is urgent and necessary. Some people are still not telling the truth, even at this stage. Some people are not coming forward to give information. They are refusing to recognise there is potential for a national crisis here. A person appeared in a court case to prevent implementation of the legislation, having illegally imported animals. Therefore, there is a major problem and it is time we all came together to ensure the future of our industry in this regard.
The Diseases of Animals (Amendment) Act, 2001, provides important additional powers to authorised officers of my Department and significantly increases the penalties applicable to offences in the animal health field. I am certain that when this crisis has passed its lasting legacy will be a more tightly regulated and consumer-friendly animal trading sector. In the meantime we will continue with our cautious approach, maintaining controls where they are seen to be necessary and easing them only where a risk analysis by experts shows this is reasonable in all the circumstances obtaining in Ireland, the UK and the rest of Europe. This approach has served us well to date and I see no reason to change it now.
I appeal to all Members of the House to ensure the message gets across that those who have deluded us and told us lies in the face of this potential national crisis should be cut out from our society and farmers should not buy stock from them. They should not be part of the trading. Individuals and groups such as choral societies who are not involved in the agricultural world have co-operated and people have inquired on helplines whether they should go to their holiday home in Wexford or go to see a grand-daughter in Cork, yet there is a group which is still not telling the truth.
I learned last week that 14 weanlings were left outdoors in a part of my constituency following the introduction of this legislation. They were left to roam the roads and had no identification. They are, therefore, unidentifiable. Cows calving were left in a wood, starved and dehydrated to death because they are unidentifiable. Those people concerned do not deserve to be part of our society in the name of animal welfare never mind in the interests of the country. They are not fit to be primary producers. They give the decent people who are in farming a bad name. These are a small minority. If we have a cancer, we should cut it out. Those people should be cut out and there should be no tolerance for them. Let us implement this legislation to the full rigours of the law and punish those people concerned by example.
I welcome the Minister of State on the occasion of these important statements we have on a weekly basis on the foot and mouth disease outbreak. I commend the Government parties on having this important discussion. The issue is of such significance to the country nationally that it is important we discuss it in this House, examine it and keep it monitored on a weekly basis.
The Minister started off by commending the Opposition. That is what Parliament should be about. We should be able to have a good debate, particularly at a time of crisis, on an issue of national importance, and at no time should we politicise the issue. We did not do so in this instance. The Minister referred to the level of interest communities took in co-operating on this matter. I have never heard of so many people responding to inquire what they could do in their own small way. That was significant. I would go further and say that the response and the attitude of people living in urban Ireland was something for which rural Ireland, including the farming industry and farming organisations, should always be grateful. When we look back on history on how town and country have had a go at each other, the way city folk and town folk responded to this emergency should be recorded.
The Minister of State said that we considered the measures introduced some weeks ago to deal with rogue dealers and the eradication of this disease as draconian. We did, but we agreed they were essential. I wholeheartedly agree with the Minister of State's statement. We have witnessed in the constituency we share in recent weeks that people there are concerned they will be given a bad name simply because some individuals are reckless about the way they operate and do not uphold laws we have made in this House. I am proud we were involved in making those laws. I am also proud they will have an effect in the long term of putting those people out of business. Some of those people have given agriculture and our food producers a bad name at home and abroad. At the end of this learning and, perhaps, cleansing process we will probably have a better industry.
The Government has been dealing with the movement of stock to the best of its ability. We are all concerned about the situation in the North and will keep our fingers crossed for the next few hours that the results will be negative. This time of the year is a time of change in the farming world. Animals, including calves, are being put out to grass. There is a major problem, partic ularly in southern counties where farmers are accustomed to selling their calves and young store cattle. This gives rise to a serious financial problem because farmers are relying on the sale of stock to pay outstanding bills. For example, in the case of ACC loans, there is a moiety due for payment on 1 May, which farmers will be unable to meet if they are still restricted from selling cattle. The situation should be reviewed in the context of once-off movement, possibly, under a permit system under which either Teagasc or the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development would identify and establish contact between those farmers with calves to sell and those wishing to buy. I am not advocating wholesale unlimited movement of livestock, but rather a carefully controlled and managed system of movement. The problems arising from both food shortages and financial difficulties need to be addressed.
I am aware that changes are due to come into operation shortly in relation to the current restrictions on the operation of the artificial insemination service, but I am requesting clarification of the situation, including the operative date and the arrangements with regard to private operators. This is a critical time of year in the cattle breeding process as the supply of calves next year will depend on decisions being made. Unless the situation is properly managed and monitored, the quality of livestock could be adversely affected as a result of the activities of unlicensed operators.
The Minister of State referred to the effects of the current restrictions on the tourism sector, including agri-tourism. This affects many people in rural areas for whom the income from tourism, holiday homes and various small businesses is an important part of their livelihood. The director of CERT addressed a meeting of South Tipperary County Council last week. One of the issues raised on that occasion was the difficulty of those involved in the hotel and catering industry and related tourism activities in meeting their due payment of rates. I urge the Minister of State to bring that issue to the attention of the Government. He will be well aware of the plight of many small businesses in the current crisis in his own county and throughout the country. As a gesture of recognition of the problems of that important non-farming sector in terms of borrowings and their commitment to employees, the Government should consider a once-off abatement of rates.
I thank the Government side of the House for agreeing to the facility for a weekly review of problems and concerns arising from the current restrictions. I trust that the news expected shortly from Northern Ireland will be favourable.
On the AI issue, the AI centre veterinarians will certify all technicians whom they are satisfied to have been satisfactorily trained in accordance with the protocol. In other words, they must attend for training this week. We are concerned about the "cowboy" element which has been operating for some weeks without any proper controls or monitoring. Training and certification will be compulsory from now on.
I also welcome the Minister of State to give an update on developments concerning the foot and mouth disease crisis which has hit the economy. The disease is rampant in Britain and spreading in other European countries. We are left with questions which need answers, some of which are not available. The point at which the Minister of State concluded his statement is where I would like to start. All sides of the House have supported the efforts of the Government to ensure the disease is contained and will not spread beyond the one outbreak in County Louth. The rogue dealers to whom the Minister of State referred have no place in society or the practice of farming, whether in Tipperary, Louth, Cork or any other part of the country.
Good farming practice is an endeavour to produce a quality food product. While this is not a human health issue, it is part of a programme of good farming practices. When the relevant legislation was before the House I had no problem in saying that it was not draconian. I asked if it went far enough because what has been happening has threatened to destroy our major industry. Thanks to the vigilance of the Government, the co-operation of the Opposition, hard work by departmental officials and the many agencies concerned the situation has been kept under control.
There is a risk of complacency creeping in. There are even signs of this in the agriculture sector, perhaps due to the farming pressures with which the Minister of State is very familiar. There is a danger in the requests for an easing of restrictions. We are aware of the difficulties in the dairy sector in the south and the pressures in relation to calves, stores and pure-bred stock. We need, however, to consider how much greater the pressures would be if the disease took hold in the countryside and the enormous difficulties to which that would give rise. It is vitally important that farmers do not become complacent. The temporary hardships can be overcome, as farmers overcame hardships in past decades.
In this context, I particularly welcome the level of co-operation achieved between Northern Ireland and the Republic. When we debated the Animal Diseases Bill I called for a combined effort, North and South, in a one island approach to the control of animal diseases common to farming in both areas. I am glad this is in progress and that the farming organisations, North and South, have come together. It will not be easy because there are many problems, but it would be a wonderful achievement if we could have an all-Ireland approach to finding solutions not alone to this problem, but to others down the road. With close co-operation and the regionalisation of the North, which Europe has accepted, it would be possible, even now, to take an all- Ireland approach to the control of diseases and the many other common problems that we have. Were that to occur in the long term, a protocol could be put in place to enable a common approach to all problems. That would be a great achievement.
My one great concern is how the disease came into Ireland, the UK and Europe. For some time now, I have been asking how good are the regulations governing the importation into the EU of food products, particularly meat products, and how well these regulations are being enforced. I ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and the Minister of State to raise these issues at European level at a more appropriate time. We all know that diseases from Asian and South American countries are finding their way into the EU. Are they coming in through legal or illegal transactions? These matters should be discussed at EU level and one of the issues I will raise at the meeting this evening of the Joint Committee of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Commissioner David Byrne is the border controls required to stop them. I am aware that the Government, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, his Minister of State and Department officials are engaged in that debate.
We face another problem. Senator Tom Hayes referred to the build-up of calves in the south. Because we are no longer exporting those animals, there has been a huge build-up relative to last year when this country exported about 400,000 live cattle. This raises a question of growing importance which I have referred to in the past, that is, the continued free movement of live animals within the EU. There is a need for a new protocol. We as an exporting nation need to protect the live export trade to both European and non-European countries. This requires certain protocols and changes in approach, which are a matter for the EU.
If we do not protect this trade, it will have a huge negative impact. We have to be aware that policy makers in certain European countries, notably Germany and the Netherlands, both of which carry considerable weight, are beginning to speak loud and clear about changing policy on live exports. We have to pre-empt the possibility that these countries will set a policy in train, which could totally negative and impact upon the export of live cattle. God help us this year if we had not had that trade last year. We need those exports for the balance of trade.
The Minister and Senator Tom Hayes both referred to my next point. Whether we are talking about tourism or the farming industry, people have financial difficulties at present. The financial institutions have a role to play in meeting this challenge. The bottom line, making profits, should not be the determining factor in how they deal with clients who have borrowed money. That factor should be more human and social and it would be right for this House to call on the financial institutions to show a social conscience and refrain from pushing people in the farming or tourism sector to the wall.
Everyone knows that there are cattle to be sold, money is not being paid back to lenders and people are under pressure for various reasons. It is fair to ask the financial institutions to play their role in this crisis like the ordinary people who have done so well. I join in the words of thanks and appreciation that have gone out to the various organisations who have played their roles and to the people at large. It could be said that foot and mouth is an agricultural problem, that it is farmers' trouble, but the public at large has done a tremendous job that has extended even beyond rowing in behind every request made of them.
We, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and the Minister of State are coming under pressure for greater releases. Let it be done in a most studied fashion. We are not doing too badly. There are inconveniences and we are suffering a bit but how much more would we suffer if the disease were to affect us to anything near the extent that it affects our neighbour? I will not reflect on what our neighbour has or has not done. There is no point as the story tells its own tale. Let us keep the disease out. We have to withstand the pressures we face.
I fully support the Minister's comments about the rogue dealers and farmers. There is no place for them. They do not represent me or the thousands of farmers out there who do things reasonably well. They are a cancer. The factories and abattoirs have been getting away with blue murder. They must also be examined and brought within the ambit of the law. Let the full rigours of the law take their course.
May I share time with Senator Henry? I will be very brief. The Minister and his words are welcome. He talked about a national crisis. I believe the words for crisis and opportunity are the same in Chinese. This is an opportunity for us. Senator Callanan has talked about an opportunity. We have not used these opportunities in the past. In 1996 when BSE hit Britain, we were aware that we could do something about it, yet just last week we were told we can no longer sell T-bone steaks on the bone. Britain and Portugal can do so but in those five years we did not do what we should have done. We did not introduce ear tagging. We have nobody to blame but ourselves. If there is a crisis, it is also an opportunity.
I will touch on one other point. We talked about the spirit of working together and the commitment of the nation, particularly of those not involved in agriculture. The tourism business has been given a huge wake-up call here. This is an opportunity. The part of the speech that I waited for and which I was delighted to hear is that the St Patrick's Day festivities will be allowed to proceed around 18 to 20 May. As the Minister mentioned, I am chairman of the national St. Patrick's festival. We will go ahead with all the planned events which we will announce next week.
Will the Minister encourage the Government to regard this as the biggest St. Patrick's festival ever? It will celebrate getting over this problem. I know it is too early and we must wait until 19 April, but I hope on 20 April we will announce the best ever St. Patrick's festival taking place next month. It will contain all the elements we had planned before but will be seen as a celebration and an expression of gratitude to the people, particularly the non-agricultural sector which dedicated and committed itself with enthusiasm to getting over the problem. The opportunity is there and we should be sure to grasp it.
I thank Senator Quinn for sharing his time with me. Thanks probably have been sent already but I feel sure that other Members of the House would like to join me in sending our thanks to the staff of the Pirbright laboratory who have given us incredible service over the past few months. I express some interest here because the head of the laboratory is a constituent of mine. Dr. Donaldson is a veterinary graduate of Trinity College Dublin.
I knew the Senator would not miss the opportunity.
I have written to thank him personally but I feel the Seanad would like to let him know that we are very grateful. I heard mention at the beginning of this outbreak that we should have a viral reference laboratory for foot and mouth disease. That would be absolute madness. It is a very infectious virus and should we wait 50 years trying to hold on to it in a few vials before the next outbreak? The only other foot and mouth viral reference laboratory I know of is on an island off Denmark. We should also recognise that to have the facility of a laboratory of such high international repute is very important.
It is interesting that in this country none of the initial antibody tests which proved negative were later proved wrong with the growth of virus from tissue. That is very important. Once we had initial negative tests we were in a good position to know that the follow-up test when the virus was grown would also be negative. It is very fortunate that we have such a laboratory so near at hand to do work for us as well as the enormous amount of work it has to do in Great Britain.
I thank the Minister for coming in to give us an update. I share the Minister's concern about the report from Cookstown, County Tyrone, this evening where there seems to be serious concern among veterinary and Ministry officials that this may be a positive case. We can only hope otherwise. The chilling aspect of this is that it is a case affecting dairy cows. That would be a new departure in the spread of the disease. There is also a huge pig population in that part of Tyrone and we all know that if foot and mouth disease gets into the pig herd it is extremely serious. One can only feel trepidation at what is unfolding. We may know the result within an hour but can only hope that it will be a false alarm.
The situation in the United Kingdom is very serious. Some of the outbreaks this week were in areas far from areas of existing outbreaks. It has jumped outside excluded areas and one can only presume the disease was transmitted by human contact. The precautions in place in the UK do not match those of this country. We do not wish to interfere in their affairs but we have a serious interest in this. We should say that we are not happy with the arrangements in terms of exclusion zones etc. It is clear that the mass epidemic they now have has to do with the fact that there is laxity in how they have sealed off areas where an outbreak has taken place. We can only appeal to them to redouble their efforts. The politics and the economics of agriculture in the UK are entirely different from those here. Britain will pay a terrible price for this outbreak because when it is all over it will cost billions to their food industry. They need to take that into account, despite the fact that primary agriculture accounts for very little of GDP output and very little of employment share in the UK.
The last day I spoke I asked about the situation in regard to Athleague. The first major scare we had south of the Border after the outbreak in Meigh related to the taking of sheep from that farm to be slaughtered in Athleague. Those sheep were afterwards exported to France. It is clear that illegality surrounded that consignment of sheep. There has been intensive Garda activity surrounding the issue but everyone wants to know if anyone will be charged. Surely the Minister knows more than he is saying. I know he may be precluded from saying too much because of ongoing Garda investigations but there are things he ought to be saying about it. People need to be assured that the issue is being pursued by the Garda, that it has identified suspects and that it intends to press charges. It is important to assure the public and the farming community that the matter is being taken seriously by the authorities. The Minister should be less taciturn and say a little more about it.
Extensification payments etc. will soon be issued to farmers and some of these payments are subject to inspection. Each year a number of files are pulled by the Department and they are sent for compliance inspection. Obviously there have been no compliance inspections this year since the scare took place. In view of the financial pinch farmers are feeling, I ask the Minister to ensure there will not be a withholding of payments under the beef premium scheme, the suckler cow scheme, the extensification scheme, the headage scheme and the various sheep schemes. There should be no delays in payments.
Senator Tom Hayes mentioned that in the south of Ireland the aspect of dairy farming where calves have to be transported to the west for sale cannot happen because of the ban on the movement of all animals. That is having a serious effect on the fodder situation on these farms which in turn translates itself into a serious effect on the income on the farm. The majority of farmers here would not survive without income support. Nothing irritates or frustrates farmers more than a delay in income support payments. They see them as an entitlement and they have budgeted on their arrival on a certain date. It is necessary to have a compliance inspection, but then payment is delayed for many months. I ask the Minister of State to ensure there is no delay.
I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for updating us and keeping his word to me. When the legislation was debated last month I proposed an amendment which would have required tagging to be made compulsory by law. The Minister, on the basis of a guarantee given by him that this would be done, asked me to withdraw the amendment. I did so and it was taken on board. That was appreciated. It is important to acknowledge this because we work on the basis of mutual trust.
I welcome the Department's important decision to ease the prohibition of movement and allow the activities mentioned by the Minister of State. From dealing with the Departments of Education, North and South, I am aware of the problems. I was glad when the TUI received permission from the Northern authorities to hold its conference in Belfast.
I compliment the authorities on both sides of the Border, particularly on the southern side, on the arrangements in place. Many complain that there are inadequate checks on the Border. I have an office in Belfast to which I often go. Knowing that we would discuss the matter today, I took careful notes on my visit to Belfast yesterday. On the way there and back, there were four separate Garda checks, not just on the Border, but on the N52 on my way north and the N1 on my return. There were also two RUC checks on the A1, not on the Border, and my car was sprayed four times. It is important to realise that this is happening.
Taking nothing away from our Northern colleagues, I also compliment the Department on the efficiency of the spray system on the southern side of the Border. This should be noted. Listeners ought to ring Marian Finucane's radio show to tell her in order to bring balance to the debate.
I am aware of the impact on tourism in respect of which there should be advice about school tours. Many small businesses which advertise in our magazine have been devastated, losing one year's income, because agricultural related and outdoor tours have been prohibited for the last month. I took a call from one operator whose arrangements had been cancelled and could hear his wife crying in the background. I would like such tours to go ahead.
The three teacher unions are holding their annual conferences shortly. While it would be a great relief for a general secretary not to have to do so, we realise the impact they will have on the local tourism industry. Our conference next week is a recognition that the industry in Tralee can deal with it. We have received advice from the Department – I have spoken to the Minister directly – and advise members to take every precaution to ensure they do not cause any difficulty.
It will be straight to Dingle with no stops on the way.
Exactly. That would be perfect. Hoteliers in Tralee were relieved when we informed them two weeks ago that it was our intention, unless advised otherwise, to go ahead with the conference.
The work of groups such as AgriAware which interact with schools has been inhibited. In the next two weeks there would have been the usual annual urban-rural day activities which have now been cancelled. They are also a loss. The Department might consider easing restrictions in these areas where all those involved are security conscious and responsible. As some of these activities take place on farms, this might not be possible. Many farms and outdoor activities depend on school tours for business. We can see the difference in Leinster House where at this time of year the House is normally packed with pupils and people begin to see what it is like to be a teacher. None of these activities is taking place and there is a sense of loss at all levels.
I compliment the Minister on providing for tagging and thank the Department for the arrangements in place on the Border and the important decisions taken regarding access for British visitors. It has done a great job. I am as happy for it as the country that the disease is contained. I hope the news from County Tyrone will be good.
I welcome the Minister of State. It is good that the disease is contained. I hope this will continue to be the position. I agree with previous speakers that certain restrictions should be reviewed. The Minister of State spoke about AI services, a matter which affects County Clare where small to medium dairy herdowners rely on the service provided, unlike larger farmers in the Minister of State's constituency of Tipperary South.
Where they own their own bulls.
The Minister of State might not be aware of how this service affects small to medium farmers. He stated that from 19 April AI services will be available, subject to a protocol. Will he give us the full details? This will have an economic impact next year on milk production. This must be considered.
While we appreciate the difficulties that arise in the movement of cattle, we must look at the practicalities. The entire population has taken the matter seriously and responded responsibly. Dairy farmers have calves on their farms which normally would be sold at this time of year. Despite the difficulties, something must be done about movement. The stipulation that a lorry can only enter and deliver animals from one farm to one other location must again be reviewed. It is working against medium and small farmers and the cost involved is serious.
I take the opportunity of complimenting the group on the work it has done. It has addressed matters in a very serious manner. I also compliment the public which has responded in a very responsible manner.
The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, among others, has lifted restrictions on visiting various parks and public facilities. I ask the Minister of State to examine the area of walking holidays. Many come to County Clare for walking holidays and use the green roads across the Burren. Many of those involved in the tourism business are experiencing a huge impact, with up to 70% cancellations for walking holidays. The Minister of State is familiar with Lisdoonvarna where a number of business people are feeling the impact. I am making representations directly to him at the behest of people from the area and ask him to raise the matter and address it with the review group. Even allowing people walk on public roads, rather than green roads, would relieve the situation. The apparent ban which currently applies across the board is a disincentive to those coming on holidays. If the Minister of State wishes to respond, perhaps he could do so at the conclusion of statements as his antics are distracting me.
I was hoping the Senator would declare her interest.
The Chair might encourage the Minister of State to restrain himself.
As time is very limited, I suggest that the Senator should not provoke interventions from the Minister of State.
It has been limited more by the Minister of State's antics. I ask him to address the situation pertaining to walking tours which is impacting on tourism in many parts of the country.
I would also like details on the protocol relating to AI operators and ask for some common sense in relation to dropped calves because people do not have fodder and there is huge congestion, which raises animal health issues. The Minister of State addressed the reason there are shortages of fodder. The economy should be allowed to progress as normally as possible. This issue should be addressed.
I thought the Senator would declare her interests in the tourism business. She has a large—
I do not have an interest in the areas to which I referred.
The Senator said that those involved in the tourism industry in those areas were affected. I assumed that she was one of them. She is, probably, making enough money to continue.
The fact that people are not walking is to my benefit.
The Minister of State should be allowed to conclude without interruption.
As I explained to Senator Hayes, there is a protocol in place for AI. Provision has been made for those involved to attend courses and be given certification on how to take proper precautions. Worryingly, in recent weeks people have been operating illegally. They have not followed the proper protocol and we do not know the origin of the animal bloodline or how good it is, which will be a problem. This time next year, however, we will know from the dates of birth of animals who followed it. There will be traceability, a vital component. I look forward to the results.
It is still necessary to be extremely cautious. When regulations were relaxed in England in 1967 the disease spread for a second time like wildfire. The farming community is getting very impatient when they are the ones who will receive the greatest benefit from the regulations.
Sitting suspended at 5.25 p.m. and resumed at 6 p.m.
