Mr. Aidan O'Driscoll:

As the Deputy may know, the suspected BSE case emerged through our surveillance systems on fallen animals. An animal died on farm. We have a system where we assist with financial aid to remove animals over 48 months of age and then we sample the animals to see if there are any traces of BSE or other diseases. In this particular case, BSE was found in one animal. Tests have been carried out to confirm that and at present we are awaiting two further confirmatory tests. That full epidemiological investigation is underway to determine both whether other animals that are related to that animal have it, and potential causes and so on. That investigation will probably take some time. It is ongoing.