Pat Upton
Ceist:12 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total amount spent on the prevention of BSE.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - BSE Prevention.
Pat Upton
Ceist:31 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total number of animals slaughtered to prevent the spread of BSE; and their total value.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 31 together.
A total of £7,182,000 has been spent on the slaughter of 10,006 animals for the purposes of depopulating herds in which a BSE infected animal has been diagnosed.
There is no evidence that BSE is transmitted between animals and this depopulation is carried out to enable the strongest possible guarantees to be provided in respect of our beef exports.
Other costs are incurred by my Department in connection with BSE related controls. These include expenditure on laboratory examination of brains from suspect animals, checking compliance with the ban on feeding meat and bone meal to ruminants, surveillance in meat factories etc. It is not possible to quantify these costs separately.
In view of fears of fraud by farmers smuggling BSE-infected cattle across the Border in order to claim compensation at a letter date, what work has been undertaken by the Department to ensure this is not happening, particularly in view of the recent serious matter raised by the German Government?
The Deputy is raising quite a separate matter.
Are these animals for the factory or the live trade?
I am referring to fears expressed some time ago about farmers receiving compensation for cattle that would subsequently be killed. If that activity is occurring it is quite malicious. Complaints were made that cattle may have been brought in from Britain. Has the Minister followed up that matter which was referred to in a newspaper report some time ago?
My Department has a strict regime for checking the identify of animals and where they come from. I am aware of speculative reports in this area. The Department and I would be very concerned if there was any truth in them and absolute vigilance will be exercised.
What action does the Department take in respect of such newspaper reports? Is verification sought from the newspaper of reports of smuggling animals across the Border? Groundless, accusations may cause serious damage to our agricultural industry. Are they asked to retract them?
We do not have evidence to support those speculative reports. If information becomes available it will be pursued to the full. Our control system is accepted in the countries to which we report — it was accepted by the German authorities no later than last week.