Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

A total of 126 cases of BSE were confirmed in 2004 compared to 182 in 2003 and 333 in 2002. To date in 2005 there have been 61 cases, which represents a decrease of 46% on the number of cases discovered in the same period in 2004. The majority of all confirmed cases were animals born prior to the introduction of the additional controls in 1996 and 1997. The age profile of BSE cases as well as the significant reduction in case numbers indicates that these additional controls have been effective in reducing the exposure to the infectious agent of animals born after 1997. It is anticipated that the incidence of disease will continue to decline as cows born prior to 1998 leave the system.

Where BSE is confirmed, a detailed epidemiological investigation is undertaken, in which the feeding regime used is an essential element, particularly in cases where the animals were born after the feed controls were reinforced. However, the specific causes of the post-1997 cases have not been definitively established as the events of interest took place several years earlier.

To date, BSE has been confirmed in 16 animals born after 1997. In addition, ten cases were confirmed in 1997-born animals of which a number were born before all of the reinforced measures were put fully in place that year. My Department had foreseen the likelihood that cases such as these would arise from time to time that would relate to circumstances specific to the farms in question and would not conform with the general trend as the incidence of the disease in the national herd recedes. Similar cases have occurred elsewhere, particularly in the United Kingdom and Canada. However, there is no basis for suspecting that these cases are indicative of either a systemic failure in controls or a reversal of or deviation from the overall positive trend in relation to BSE in Ireland.

The 16 cases born after 1997 were detected in counties Monaghan, four cases, Cavan, three cases, Cork and Kerry, two cases each, and one case each in counties Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo, Meath and Sligo. The Deputy will be aware that stringent controls are operated in Ireland in the context of protecting consumers and eradicating BSE. These controls are operated by my Department in the export plants and in the case of small local abattoirs by the local authorities under the supervision of the FSAI.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The controls have been and remain subject to ongoing external audit and examination by a range of bodies, including the FSAI and the EU Commission Food and Veterinary Office. Based on extensive examination in 1998, the EU categorised Ireland's position in respect of BSE controls as being optimally stable, which is the highest category of control effectiveness. The Irish BSE control system is also subject to examination by the veterinary and public health authorities in certain non-EU beef importing countries.

See this speech in context