Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Under the programme for Government we will introduce a separate division to establish Bio-Security Ireland and we will proceed on that basis. The Deputy is right in saying that over the next few years there will be considerably more new diseases, but expertise is being provided to deal with them. Accordingly, in due course, we will have to equip ourselves on a scientific basis, in consultation with farming bodies. The Deputy's concern about Pirbright, given that it is an EU reference laboratory, is challenging and we must learn lessons from the situation. On that basis, the State Laboratory has evaluated its own bio-security measures. We are lucky to have a brand new, state-of-the-art laboratory available. The Deputy is correct in saying that the outcomes of the Pirbright investigation may pose challenges for us all. It is not for me to say whether Pirbright will continue to be the EU reference laboratory, but I am sure the EU and the UK will undertake a major evaluation of that issue.

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