Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
1832. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the information that his Department has on swine fever hot zones across Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1261/23]
View answer1835. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of biosecurity measures that are in place to prevent the importation of swine fever; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1279/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1832 and 1835 together.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) continuously monitors the African Swine Fever (ASF) situation both within the EU and in a global context, keeping up to date with current disease events and attending relevant EU and international meetings and working groups.
Throughout 2022, outbreaks and cases of ASF continued to be reported in domestic pigs and wild boar, respectively, in Europe. Last year, the EU Member States of Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia reported ASF. It has also been reported in Moldova, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine.
DAFM has deployed considerable resources to its Border Control Posts to mitigate the risk of this and other diseases entering the country. It is recognized that the main risk pathways for the introduction of ASF into Ireland are via the illegal import of meat and meat products and contaminated clothing, vehicles and equipment. Consequently, DAFM ensures that border checks and inspections are carried out at Irish airports and ports for illegal and inadvertent importation of meat and meat product imports which could contain ASF virus.
In addition, DAFM has been engaged in a comprehensive awareness raising campaign in relation to ASF for a number of years, and remains committed in its efforts to prevent the incursion of ASF into this country.
