asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has made contact with the officers of each county committee of agriculture in regard to precautions against foot and mouth disease and to the importance of every farmer and stock owner in this country being on the alert; whether special precautions will be taken in the case of people coming from Wales and Northern England to this country; and if the matter is having every possible attention to prevent the entry of the disease into this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foot and Mouth Disease.
10.
The answer to all parts of the question is "yes".
In view of the tremendous urgency associated with this matter, does the Minister not consider that it would be desirable to have a conference between his Department's officials and the officials of all the county committees of agriculture so that plans to combat this disease could be made on a county-organised basis and in order to ensure that no part of the country will be left without suitable precautions having been taken?
There have been all sorts of conferences going on immediately this started and plans even for a greater dilemma than the one in which we find ourselves at the moment have been laid. All sorts of interests, both veterinary and others, have been brought together and have been instructed, and have received renewed instructions, in regard to this matter. Plans have been drawn up not only with our own people but with the Six County people as well.
The Minister is aware that British buyers are still coming direct from England to buy cattle and is there any way this can be stopped? There were a number of them buying no later than yesterday. I am quite sure that the sales at Ballsbridge at the moment also present quite a danger.
All I can say is that there has been a meeting with the livestock and meat trade interests on this specific subject of those coming here in order to try to enlist their support. I know that we have that support to encourage those people to appoint agents and to discourage them from coming here. If there is anything further that we can do in that direction, I should be glad to know what it is.
They have not done that yet?
This matter of appointing agents is being done.
The Minister is aware that they were here yesterday?
This is the dilemma. Do we close them out, and if we do, how are we to do it?
Without causing undue alarm or consternation, I think we may well escape infection altogether. Would the Minister consider it desirable to ensure the most important thing of all, that is, to have a suitable talk on Telefís Éireann emphasising to all farmers, and indeed to other influential people in rural Ireland, the necessity of reporting promptly to the Department any suspicious symptoms? I think the Minister will be aware that the only other grave outbreak we had in this country was due to the folly of one individual in the midlands who withheld from the Department vital information which might have made it possible for us to arrest the outbreak much earlier than in fact we were able to do.
In so far as radio and television appeals are concerned, it is quite true to say that in recent days the veterinary officers have on several occasions given all sorts of advice and we are availing of every opportunity to put across to the public and all concerned just what they should do and how to avoid this scourage, if at all possible. We will continue to do that through all media. The House may take that as our intention, to point out what precautions should be taken.