Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 June 2016
241. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why previous large-scale live cattle exports to Belgium have declined; his plans to rectify this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16568/16]
View answerLive exports from Ireland to Belgium have reduced considerably largely as a consequence of the introduction by Belgium of a compulsory national Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) eradication programme. Under EU legislation, Member States who have compulsory disease eradication programmes in place or who have freedom from particular diseases, such as IBR, are entitled to additional guarantees when bovine animals are being traded into these states or regions. The Belgian programme was approved by the Commission in 2014.
Teagasc is currently undertaking a cost benefit analysis of the implementation of a national IBR eradication programme in Ireland and the results are expected to be available later in the year. A decision on whether or not to proceed with a national IBR eradication programme will be taken in light of the outcome of the Teagasc study in consultation with stakeholders.
