Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Seal Virus.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

654 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of seals which have died and been washed up on the Irish coastline as a result of the epidemic currently sweeping the continental shelf. [19847/02]

Cecilia Keaveney

Ceist:

657 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on correspondence (details attached) from the Irish Seal Sanctuary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19864/02]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 654 and 657 together.

I am aware that the phocine distemper virus – PDV – has in recent times caused the deaths of a large number of seals in European and UK waters. To date only one case of PDV – off the Aran Islands, County Galway – has been confirmed in seals found in Irish waters. A number of other dead seals have been forwarded to the veterinary college of University College, Dublin, for laboratory examination. To date none have been confirmed as having PDV. Two seals found in Northern Ireland waters have however been confirmed after laboratory examination as having PDV.

As regards the statement in the correspondence referred to from the Irish Seal Sanctuary about approximately 100 seals having washed up dead on the Irish coastline, it is a regular occurrence for seals, particularly pups, to be washed up at this time of year because of heavy seas resulting from stormy weather, and such individual deaths would not necessarily or normally be related to PDV.

My Department has put in place arrangements to monitor the incidence of PDV amongst the seal population in Irish waters through its network of conservation rangers, Dúchas regional management and Dúchas research branch. Local authorities have also been requested to maintain vigilance in relation to current events and to liaise with the above specialist personnel. My officials have been in ongoing contact with their counterparts in Northern Ireland and the UK, and information on developments in our respective waters is being shared. Meetings have also been held with representatives of the Irish Seal Sanctuary and communication with them remains open.

Phocine distemper virus represents a natural phenomenon among seals. The reality is that the disease must necessarily take its course, as it is not possible to administer vaccine to wild seal populations and attempted rehabilitation of affected seals has not been shown to be effective. My Department will continue to monitor the situation.

Barr
Roinn