Vol. 552 No. 2
23 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the foot and mouth disease controls and restrictions that remain in place since 20 February 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11900/02]
Many measures introduced during the foot and mouth disease crisis have been discontinued, as there have been no cases of the disease in the United Kingdom since 30 September 2001. The EU has lifted all foot and mouth disease related restrictions on trade in animals and animal products from the UK and the world animal health body OIE has restored the United Kingdom's foot and mouth disease-free status. A number of measures have been retained, however, in the interests of protecting Ireland's animal health status. These include full intra-community trade and certification rules applying to trade with Northern Ireland in animals of susceptible species; restrictions on the frequency of internal livestock movements in the interests of slowing down animal movement in order to reduce the risk of the spread of disease and enhanced controls at points of access to the State, such as ports and airports, by persons travelling from outside the island of Ireland. Disinfection measures at ports are currently under review and a range of other measures such as sheep tagging, registration of dealers, controls on sheep shearing and artificial insemination and a ban on swill remain as permanent features.
Close liaison is maintained with authorities in Northern Ireland and elsewhere. Protection of the animal health status of the island of Ireland is a particular concern of the North-South Ministerial Council, the most recent meeting of which was held on 15 April. In this regard, and as jointly mandated by the North's Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Bríd Rodgers and I, an active programme of work across a range of headings and involving officials from my Department and its counterpart in Belfast is now under way. This will result in an unprecedented degree of cross-Border co-operation on animal health issues, to the benefit of all involved in agriculture in both parts of Ireland.
