Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 17 May 1990

Vol. 398 No. 9

Written Answers. - Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

19 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the decision taken by France and Great Britain to ban the importation of meat and bone meal from this country because of the alleged incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in our cattle herd; the steps he has taken to overcome the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. O'Kennedy)

Great Britain has not imposed a ban on the import of meat and bone meal from Ireland. However, a general prohibition on the feeding of meat and bone meal to ruminants was introduced by the British authorities in July 1988.

In the case of France, discussions are continuing with the authorities there about the action they have taken. They have been made fully aware of the current situation in Ireland and of the fact there is no indigenous BSE problem here. To date, 19 cases have been confirmed out of a total cattle population of seven million. Five were imported animals and our investigations into the remainder suggest an association with imported meat and bone meal. Prompt and effective action was taken to deal with the problem. The disease is a notifiable one and affected or suspected animals are slaughtered immediately and their carcases destroyed. Routine monitoring is carried out at our meat plants and suspected cases are referred for diagnosis. In all instances, that diagnosis has yielded negative results. My Department have also purchased the progeny of affected dams. This is simply a precautionary measure as there is no evidence that the disease is transmitted from animal to offspring.