Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

This is carried out and we have risk analysis and forward planning for new diseases which may arise. This is not a reactionary policy. We have a contingency plan in the event of many diseases coming through. Regrettably, we have had experience with some of these.

We cannot be complacent. This is an evolving policy area and risk analysis will advise me accordingly. The level of preparedness of the Department is more than adequate to deal with the outbreak of a disease. This is not to state we are not preparing for new diseases. Surveillance work is carried out at academic, laboratory and veterinary level.

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