Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)

I thank the Minister for her reply and I acknowledge that diseases such as bluetongue are, to a large extent, beyond the control of any individual or committee. In fairness, it must also be acknowledged that Ireland has been successful in so far containing this outbreak of foot and mouth disease. I wish to broaden the question, however, because there are a number of other animal-born diseases involving intermediate factors, like midges, that undoubtedly will become more relevant as time goes on. There is an inevitability about that. While we have been lucky with regard to bluetongue disease and effective on foot and mouth disease, I wish to ask about the future management of risks associated with other types of animal disease. On a number of occasions I have raised the need for a structured bio-security unit to be headed by an individual who will take overall responsibility for co-ordinating it. My point is based on the New Zealand experience. That island nation is dependent on agriculture and is very like Ireland in many ways. New Zealand has stringent controls on bio-security so a similar situation should be applied here.

Given what we know about recent events concerning foot and mouth disease at the Pirbright laboratory, should we be examining the possibility of putting in place our own testing facilities? I realise the cost and consequences arising from such a step but it might be worthwhile given the concerns that have not been alleviated by the second outbreak in Pirbright.

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