Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The tests that are being carried out are not back yet but they should be back shortly, either at the end of this week or the start of next week. People in this House have put the situation into context, which is important. Deputy Ferris, as an Opposition spokesperson, has also been very responsible in terms of how he has responded to the situation as well. The context is that when a country such as Ireland has dealt comprehensively with a historical BSE problem, there will be the odd, isolated case, which is what seems to have happened here. We are now seeking to explain how that happened. It is proof that we have a rigorous testing system that tests every bovine animal over 48 months that dies on a farm in order that we can ensure that if there is any animal with BSE out there, we will find it and it will not find its way through the net. If we do find something, even when it is a preliminary suspected case, we will be upfront, transparent and open about it to all our trade partners, the industry here and to anyone else who is interested. That is what has happened in this case. It is because we have been upfront, for which the World Organisation for Animal Health, OIE, wrote to thank us this week, that we saw the headlines that emerged last week. It is because of that level of transparency that markets for Irish beef are very calm. There has been no impact on beef prices since this happened last week and we are pretty confident that all the new markets we have opened and the ambition we have for growth in those markets this year and into next year can still move ahead as planned. However, let us wait and see what the result of the investigation will be. Openness and transparency is key and that will continue through the process.

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