Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

My Department is participating in the development of Ireland's precautionary response to the risk of avian 'flu. Against the background that migratory birds may transmit the disease between countries and regions, the National Parks and Wildlife Service is assisting and providing advice on wildlife-related issues to the Department of Agriculture and Food.

The current focus of attention is on water birds such as ducks, geese and waders. My Department's input includes information on the migratory routes, location and abundance of birds that migrate to or transit through Ireland and assisting in obtaining samples from wild water birds as part of the ongoing screening process. Field staff of my Department throughout the country will also maintain surveillance for any unusual instances of sickness or deaths in wild bird populations.

My Department is considering possible additional measures should the virus reach western Europe, including limiting or stopping the hunting, capture and transport of wild birds and the closure of nature and wildfowl reserves and national parks to the public. The time and scale of any such actions will depend on ongoing assessment of the level of risk to be addressed.

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