John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

Since the debate in the Seanad, when this issue arose, and on Committee Stage, the Minister has considered the suggestions made by Opposition Deputies. She believes it would be inappropriate to limit the provision of class A disease since a class B or uncategorised disease could pose as great a threat. In terms of the significant threat format, this is more of a policy statement than a legal provision.

There are questions as to who will decide when a significant threat exists and the criteria that will be used to decide it. The Minister feels the existing draft, which reserves the power to activate limited registration to the council, implies the council must assess the situation in light of the conditions prevailing and reach a decision as to whether the other possibility of getting veterinary expertise into the country at short notice is not adequate. The Minister has given considerable thought to the amendments put forward but she still feels the situation is the best way forward and that the VCI would go through the exhaustive conditions before any decision is made.

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