Animal Diseases

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2022

Tuesday, 8 November 2022

Questions (1264, 1265, 1266, 1267)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1264. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied). [54642/22]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1265. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied). [54644/22]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1266. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied). [54645/22]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1267. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied). [54646/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1264 to 1267, inclusive, together.

My Department’s primary function in relation to Avian Influenza (AI) is to help protect and control outbreaks of the disease in poultry and captive birds.

My Department monitors the avian influenza disease situation in wild birds to inform the risks presented to poultry and captive birds. To this end, this Department carries out avian influenza surveillance testing in domestic and wild birds throughout the year.

My officials have been working closely with all stakeholders to raise awareness of the increased risk that avian influenza presents to poultry and captive birds this year due to its presence in our wild bird population.

Highly Pathogenic AI (HPAI/bird flu) is very contagious to birds. All poultry owners and keepers of captive birds are urged to maintain stringent biosecurity measures to protect their flocks. Anyone travelling from an area known or suspected to be affected with avian influenza or where wild birds have been found dead is advised not to come into contact with poultry/captive birds without prior cleaning and disinfection of clothing and footwear.

Strict biosecurity remains the number one preventative measure to introduction of avian influenza into poultry and captive bird flocks. In this context, I introduced statutory bio-security regulations on Monday 19th September to ensure that best practice is adopted by all keepers of poultry and captive birds.

In addition, I introduced a confinement order for poultry and captive birds, effective on the 7th November, requiring flock keepers to confine all poultry and captive birds in their possession or under their control in a secure building to which wild birds, or other animals do not have access. It is important to note that housing is a support to biosecurity, not an alternative. Stringent biosecurity remains key to protecting poultry and captive bird flocks from disease.

The Department takes its lead in matters of public health from the Department of Health and its agencies and from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and its agencies in matters relating to wildlife. 

Local Authorities, operating under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are responsible for the matters you raise in relation to maintenance of public areas.

Question No. 1265 answered with Question No. 1264.

Question No. 1266 answered with Question No. 1264.

Question No. 1267 answered with Question No. 1264.