Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006
504 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if compensation will be paid to poultry farmers who destroyed stock on the advice of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25582/06]
View answerI am assuming the Deputy is referring to an outbreak of microplasma gallisepticum in a poultry flock in Co. Limerick in November 2005.
Following notification to my Department's office in Limerick that some of the poultry in the flock were exhibiting symptoms which might have been associated with avian influenza, inspectors from my Department attended at the premises in question and a clinical examination of the flock was undertaken. The flockowner was advised that the flock might be infected with a condition known as microplasma gallisepticum.
Following a subsequent examination, the flockowner indicated that she wished to have the flock slaughtered rather than treated and when she enquired about compensation was clearly told that the Department did not have a policy of slaughtering poultry flocks infected with microplasma gallisepticum and, consequently, would not be paying compensation in these circumstances.
The Department's position in this regard was again explained to the flockowner in advance of the flock being slaughtered. At the flockowner's request and in her full knowledge that compensation would not be paid, the Department subsequently slaughtered the flock.
The issue of compensation has since been raised in correspondence with my Department and my Department has consistently advised the flockowner that compensation will not be paid in respect of the slaughter of this flock, which was undertaken at the flockowner's request and not at my Department's insistence.
