Tá áthas orm deis a bheith agam labhairt ar an ngalar crúb agus béal sa Teach agus cur síos a dhéanamh ar an gcaoi a bhfuil cúrsaí i láthair na huaire.
I am pleased to address the House today and to provide the latest in a series of updates on developments in relation to foot and mouth disease. In the most recent contribution on the issue to this House on 11 April 2001, the news in this jurisdiction was largely positive, but Senators were apprised on that date of a second suspect case in Northern Ireland near Cookstown, County Tyrone. We are all aware of what has happened in Northern Ireland since then, and it serves as a cautionary backdrop to the pressures now emerging from various quarters to dismantle controls. The second case in Northern Ireland occurred 44 days after the first one in Meigh, County Armagh, and it is clear that the foot and mouth disease virus may still be present on the island of Ireland.
Against this background, I am sure the House agrees that moves to lift restrictions must be made in a measured and cautious manner. Any relaxation of measures must have regard to the risks involved and the best veterinary advice available, as well as to the realities of increasing pressures on farms, business and daily life, which must be addressed in a balanced and responsible way.
Before dealing with the steps taken in recent days to ease restrictions, I will briefly describe the position in Ireland to date. The first and only outbreak of foot and mouth disease in this jurisdiction occurred in Proleek, County Louth, on 22 March. There has not been any case since then, thanks to a number of factors, including the establishment, prior to the Proleek outbreak, of a control zone in County Louth as a result of the pre-existing case in County Armagh and the very stringent control measures put in place by my Department at ports, airports and Border crossings and in regard to other activities. These controls were essential to contain the disease and there was a magnificent response from the general public in complying with them.
After the outbreak at Meigh, County Armagh, we created a control zone which extended beyond the minimum required by Commission rules and established a local disease control centre at Ballymascanlon prior to the Proleek outbreak. Other measures introduced in response to the threat of foot and mouth disease included the following: the banning of imports of various products from the United Kingdom with immediate effect following the initial outbreak in Britain; the mobilising of Army and Garda resources to assist the Department with the enforcement of controls at the Border; the swift introduction of effective control measures at ports, airports and Border crossings; the internal measures adopted to limit animal movements within the State; and restrictions on a variety of other activities such as hill walking, fishing and large gatherings such as international rugby matches, domestic soccer and GAA fixtures. These and the other measures introduced are evidence of the excellent judgment exercised by the Government with the support of responsible people from all sides of the political divide in both Houses of the Oireachtas.
The control measures would not have been effective without everybody's support, including that of sports, social and cultural organisations and ordinary people who displayed a willingness to accept that sacrifices had to be made for the greater good of the nation and whose commitment was exceptional. Critical events in the life of every nation and individual bring out the best or worst in people and I am proud of the Irish people's reaction to the recent crisis. As a nation, we can be proud of the manner in which our people, political structures and public service have dealt with the crisis to date.
Since the outbreak of the first and only case of foot and mouth disease in Proleek, County Louth, on 22 March, a number of critical dates have passed: on 19 April, the Commission decision imposing export restrictions on Ireland expired and on 30 April, the ten kilometre surveillance zone and the three kilometre protection zone established around the outbreak in Proleek were lifted. All this is extremely good news for the people of County Louth and, indeed, the people of Ireland. The outlook is positive and we are beginning to look at the extent to which the country can, in a phased and controlled way, begin to get back to a degree of normality. However, we are not yet out of the woods. For example, the tracing work being done by my Department is continuing and suspected illegally imported animals are still being identified. Some 65 flocks are restricted throughout the country as a precautionary measure. Suspect cases are still being followed up and while results from Pirbright yesterday in respect of suspect animals in Watergrasshill, County Cork, and Dunleer, County Louth, were negative for foot and mouth disease, results are still awaited in respect of north County Leitrim. The situation both in Northern Ireland and Great Britain continues to pose a threat.
The time has come to review controls, but this must be done in a measured and cautious man ner. On 1 May, a number of adjustments to existing controls were announced, based on the considered advice of the expert group, subject to there being no further cases and strict compliance with agreed protocols in each case. These covered the movement, from 2 May, of stock bulls from one holding to another for breeding purposes; the movement, again from 2 May, of cattle between fragments of the same holding under a variety of circumstances and without a distance limitation; and the movement of cattle from feedlots from 9 May. Controls in relation to the movement of sheep remain and it is not yet considered appropriate to allow farm to farm movement of animals generally.
It has also been possible to announce relaxation of restrictions on non-farming activities, mainly with effect from the end of next week. However, the relaxation of controls which I have described will go some way towards alleviating some of the commercial, animal husbandry and welfare pressures on the ground, of which I am acutely aware. They will also be welcomed by the general public in so far as a range of recreational, commercial and other activities can resume. In the meantime, restrictions will be kept under continued review, in conjunction with the expert group, having regard to the prevailing circumstances and the operation in practice of the adjustments announced.
Further adjustments will be made to the controls in place when this is considered appropriate and we will continue to balance the exigencies of daily life against the risk of spreading a disease which might have a long-term detrimental effect on the national economy and the daily lives of ordinary people in a manner which strikes an appropriate balance between both.
It is most important that we do not develop a sense of being "home and dry" and that all sections of the community continue to recognise the threat which still exists. Vigilance and strict adherence to all the relevant precautions will remain the order of the day for some time yet. As we move forward and provided we are confronted with no adverse developments, further measured adjustments to restrictions can be considered in various areas, taking account of expert advice and the overriding priority of ensuring we do not at this stage risk all that we have worked so hard to achieve in the past ten weeks or so.
Everybody in our community who has contributed so much to the success of our efforts to date to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease in this country is entitled to expect that risks will not be taken at this stage which could squander the sacrifices they have made. This will be our guiding philosophy. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh lena Seanadóirí as ucht an ráiteas seo a iarraidh mar tá sé tábhachtach an tábhar seo a phlé go leanúnach.
