Vol. 543 No. 2
257 Mr. J. Brady asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the progress being made to date in the development of an all-Ireland policy for animal health; if he has satisfied himself with existing North-South co-operation on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26308/01]
The North-South Ministerial Council, NSMC, has, as one of its stated objectives, the enhancement of co-operation in relation to animal health matters on both parts of the island of Ireland. Structures have been established to pursue this aim, and discussions have already taken place in relation to the development of complementary animal identification and traceability systems, in relation to the arrangements in place to prevent illegal cross-Border trade in animals, in relation to the development of programmes for dealing with various animal diseases and in a number of other areas.
It has certainly been recognised in the wake of the FMD crisis that it is in the interests of the farming community on both sides of the Border to develop complementary systems which will enhance the animal health status of the island of Ireland as a whole. The structures established under the NSMC provide a mechanism for identifying possibilities for further collaboration and practical co-operation in a range of animal health areas on an ongoing basis.
This is not to say that the establishment of a single veterinary regime is without its difficulties, and in particular, the high incidence of BSE in the UK has meant that there has been a complete ban on the exportation of cattle from Northern Ireland since 1996, and this is likely to remain in place, certainly in the short-term.
However, there is already a great deal of equivalence in the veterinary regimes operated north and south of the Border. There has been a very high level of co-operation between ourselves and Northern Ireland on animal health issues, and I will continue to focus on developing this relationship both at ministerial and official level in the future.
