asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will make a statement to allay public fears regarding the poultry problem in County Monaghan.
Private Notice Question. - County Monaghan Poultry Disease.
The outbreak of poultry disease in County Monaghan was first reported to my Department on 21 November. Immediate steps were taken to restrict movement into and out of the affected premises, and an infected area of five kilometres radius was declared within which movement of poultry and poultry products was prohibited except under permit. Examination of specimens disclosed a strain of avian influenza affecting turkeys. Three premises have been affected by the disease, all situated in close proximity in the Emyvale/Glaslough area.
No new outbreak of the disease has been reported since 30 November, and it is accordingly possible that, thanks to prompt action by all concerned, the disease has now been contained. However it is as yet too early to be certain of this.
All poultry found on the affected premises were slaughtered and buried under the supervision of my Department's veterinary officers, who are maintaining continuous monitoring of all poultry premises in the area. I would like to assure the House that the outbreak poses no threat to the domestic Christmas trade for turkeys, and the public should have no fears about the birds slaughtered for that trade.
I thank the Minister. Does he agree that the outbreak has not been as serious as at first feared, that it was confined to a number of small producers in an isolated area far from the main producer? Does he agree that the last outbreak was notified to the Department on 30 November? However, on RTE News on 5 December there was reference to an outbreak, and that caused a lot of concern and did great damage by pinpointing the matter at that time. I ask the Minister to ensure that there will be adequate compensation for those who lost stock.
There were three outbreaks, all in close proximity in a confined area. The first two were detected on 21 November and the third on 30 November. There have not been any further outbreaks. The total number of birds slaughtered are 6,300 turkeys and 28,000 broilers. The broilers were not affected by the disease but they could have been potential carriers and we found it necessary to slaughter them. We hope to pay compensation before Christmas. It will amount to about £150,000.
Would the Minister accede to a request from the producers to have the Border closed to one designated outlet which would ensure proper supervision? Would the Minister consult through the Department of Foreign Affairs with Departments of Agriculture in other countries to ensure that the embargo on the exports of ducks will be lifted? We have the only duck processing plant in the country, all the produce of which is for export. We are now faced with the situation that the ducks that have been processed and in cold storage 20 miles from the outbreak are affected by a 65-day embargo from the date of the last outbreak. I ask the Minister, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, to ensure that those producers will be allowed to export. That is a major industry in the area. Most of the birds put on the market are frozen and had been in cold storage months prior to the outbreak.
I am not in a position to give the commitment requested until I have consulted with officers of the Department who are involved in this matter. I will give serious consideration to it. I will consult with the Department of Foreign Affairs to see if the Deputy's request can be acceded to.
Can the Minister say if the Department officers have any evidence as to the source of the infection? Has he had any report from the Six County Ministry as to whether there has been an outbreak in their area?
I have not got information about an outbreak in the Six Counties. The disease has been diagnosed as avian influenza. There is no conclusive evidence as to its source, but according to a radio interview with one of my senior veterinary people the likely source was wildfowl coming from northern parts.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of a question on yesterday's Order Paper to which I did not get a reply from the Taoiseach.
I will communicate with the Deputy.