Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Cahill and O'Keeffe for raising this matter which is of significant interest to a number of Members of the House and many outside it. Deputy Cahill deliberately refuses to acknowledge that the Minister, Deputy Madigan, issued the licence but was subsequently confronted by scientific evidence on the RHD2 virus. Her Department and mine, in terms of the expertise of the veterinary laboratory services in Backweston, have worked with the ICC to find a way to restore a licence at the earliest possible date. It way well be a restricted form of licence which will enable us to monitor the development and transmission of the virus between species.

I can assure the Deputy and, more particularly, the coursing fraternity outside the House that every effort is being made by the Minister, Deputy Madigan, and my Department to bring about a successful resolution of this issue.

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