Vol. 539 No. 2
80 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a farmer who had cattle wintered in another herd number which during that period went down with tuberculosis, is entitled to sell from his own herd number, in view of the fact that the wintered cattle remain in the wintered herd number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19119/01]
The keeper in question had cattle over-wintered in a facility where bovine tuberculosis was confirmed in an animal slaughtered by the owner of the said facility.
It is EU and national policy that when tuberculosis has been confirmed on a holding two clear tests at specified intervals are required prior to the withdrawal of movement restrictions. In this case the animals were moved back to their original holding following the first clear test. It was necessary to issue a restriction notice on this holding pending a further clear test. This test is due on 17 July 2001.
There is no restriction on the issue of permits for the slaughter of animals from this holding.
81 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the future plans he has to remove the current movement permit procedures for sheep when the threat of foot and mouth disease has elapsed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19120/01]
A broad range of measures have been introduced to prevent the spread of the foot and mouth disease here. In recent weeks I have announced the relaxation of some of these measures on a phased and controlled basis, subject to advice received from the expert group which I established to advise on such matters.
Sheep pose a particular FMD risk because of the difficulty of identifying the clinical symptoms and the length of the incubation in the species. In addition, there is still a serious risk overhang from Great Britain where new cases are still being confirmed each day. The point has not yet been reached where the expert group has felt it appropriate to dismantle the movement permit procedures for sheep.
I assure the Deputy that I will take appropriate steps to adjust or relax the current measures for sheep when the expert group considers it appropriate to do so.
