Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 2

Written Answers. - Bovine Diseases.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

326 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason regional veterinary laboratories are unable to deal with adult cattle over 24 months of age; his views on whether this curtails the laboratory from giving its normal excellent service to veterinary surgeons and farmers; if he will allow the infer test to be carried out on such animals at the laboratory; if he will make funding available to improve the holding facilities for such carcasses at the laboratories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21975/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh):

I assume the Deputy is referring to the rapid testing of cattle for BSE. Since 1 July 2001, Ireland, in common with other member states of the European Union, is obliged to rapid test all bovine animals over 30 months of age, and all fallen and casualty animals over 24 months of age, for BSE. Samples are taken, principally at slaughterhouses and knackeries, and the carcasses are detained overnight at the premises at which the samples are taken until a BSE test result is available the following morning.

To date in 2001, more than 320,000 cattle have been rapid tested for BSE in Ireland. The imposition of this large scale industrial type work on the regional veterinary laboratories of my Department would in fact prevent them from providing to farmers and veterinary practitioners the very valuable laboratory support service for disease surveillance which they continue to provide at present. Rapid testing for BSE is at present being carried out at a private laboratory in Newbridge, County Kildare, and to date this arrangement is working well.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

327 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will lift restrictions on local cattle and sheep fairs. [21976/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh):

Against the backdrop of continuing concern in relation to foot and mouth disease (FMD), the gathering together of animals from different herds and flocks without appropriate control, regulation and supervision and without adequate provision for traceability of movement is undesirable. Any authorised gathering will only be permitted subject to the establishment by the event organisers of a protocol, by agreement with the Department, to ensure that the appropriate safeguards are put in place in connection with the event. These will include general controls, conditions for acceptance of animals for sale, cleansing / disinfection of event area and vehicles, veterinary presence, identification, documentation and record keeping, traceability arrangements, species mixing, detection of suspicious, unusual or inappropriate transactions or movements, retention period, pick-up / delivery of animals etc. While certain events may have been regarded as traditional, it does not necessarily follow that they are consistent with current and prospective requirements in relation to ani-

mal health, disease prevention, traceability and other key concerns.

The BSE, and latterly FMD experiences have highlighted the need to critically question and where necessary alter traditional approaches to various aspects of the livestock trade in the interests of ensuring that the sector can have a viable future. Traditional fairs can be no more exempt from this necessary re-appraisal than any other feature of the livestock trade.

Finally, it should be noted that the sale by auction of livestock must only be conducted in a licensed mart premises, as provided for under the Livestock Marts Act, 1967, as amended.