Unfortunately, the Deputy who raised the issue of Aujeszky's disease is not present. Other members do not have significant concerns in this regard as the problem does not arise in other parts of the country. We will distribute the report to all members and they may make a brief comment on it. It would not be useful to go through the whole report given that the member who is concerned about the issue is not present.
Aujeszky’s Disease: Discussion with Veterinary Ireland.
Mr. John Horan
I will ask my colleague, Mr. Pat Kirwan, to say a few words. If the member who is absent wishes to make direct contact with us, we will be pleased to put him in touch with the experts, Mr. Pat Kirwan and Mr. Joe Cassidy.
Mr. Pat Kirwan
Members have copies of the report, which provides a general outline of what is Aujeszky's disease. We have a second paper on the implications of the disease and how it affects farmers, importers and exporters. This trade has become significant in recent years. Aujeszky's disease has been eradicated in other countries and while we have almost reached the point of eradication here, we need a little impetus to get over the final hurdle. Four or five herds are in the balance. The eradication programme in Northern Ireland is very aggressive. We need to show similar aggression in the coming months to get over the line and finally be able to state we have the same status, health-wise, as our counterparts in Germany and Denmark, with whom we compete. We want to be able to trade on an equal footing.
Is the disease directly hindering our competitiveness on the market?
Mr. Pat Kirwan
Yes, because we have added costs associated with additional testing and quarantine facilities. Moreover, some countries are not willing to take Irish meat unless we can state the country is free from Aujeszky's disease.
GM-free pork did not help us.
I presume this is being treated by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as an animal disease. To what extent does the Department contribute to the cost of it?
Mr. Pat Kirwan
The Department funds the analysis of the blood samples within the scheme while the farmer funds the provision of the vet, the sampling and all the rest.
Is it agreed that the report on the meeting will be passed on to the Minister and her officials? Agreed.
I thank Mr. Horan and his colleagues from Veterinary Ireland and Mr. Connolly and his colleagues from the Veterinary Council of Ireland for attending the meeting. Their contribution has been most informative and is of great assistance to us in our work. The witnesses met various groups of us earlier. I wish them well. We will do all in our power to assist them.
At our next meeting we will scrutinise EU proposals on fishing activities.
The joint committee adjourned at 1.30 p.m. until 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 13 February 2008.