Vol. 510 No. 3
39 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of cases of BSE reported; the number of cattle slaughtered as a result; if he has satisfied himself that there are adequate procedures to control the spread of BSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22429/99]
From 1989 to the end of October this year, 411 clinical cases of BSE have been recorded and a total of 53,466 animals have been slaughtered to date. This latter figure includes animals from BSE depopulated herds, birth cohort and-or progeny animals, and UK imported animals.
I am satisfied that there are strict and extensive control systems in place to ensure the safety of Irish beef and to curtail the spread of BSE.
