Vol. 541 No. 2
276 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when he will establish the monitoring group for the management of animal health in County Meath, as promised in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness; and the reason this group was not established prior to the foot and mouth outbreak. [20994/01]
The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness provides that a monitoring committee consisting of Department, veterinary and farmer representatives will be established in each district veterinary office – DVO – area, including County Meath, to review the progress of the disease eradication programme at local level.
Because of the intervention of the foot and mouth crisis it has not been possible to set up these committees on a formal basis to date. However, I have arranged that at a meeting to be held with the farming organisations today the finalisation of the arrangements for these committees to meet on a quarterly basis will be agreed.
In any event, I understand that meetings between the district veterinary office, farmers and veterinary practitioners on disease issues take place as required in most regions on a fairly regular basis.
