Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McGreehan for raising what is a really important point. The recent outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Hungary, Slovakia and Germany have highlighted the ongoing threat posed by the disease to Irish livestock. FMD is present in large parts of the developing world, causing major losses to livestock farmers and presenting a continuous risk of spread to parts of the world that are normally free from the disease, such as Ireland.

My Department has comprehensive contingency plans in place to deal with FMD, covering suspect cases, confirmed disease outbreaks and the question of how we would eradicate the disease following an incursion. Simulation exercises are carried out by my officials and the plan is updated as and when needed.

My Department is carrying out an ongoing public awareness campaign to highlight the risk of foot and mouth disease to Ireland. This includes posters at airports and ports to raise vigilance. Livestock owners in Ireland are advised to implement biosecurity measures to mitigate the risk of an outbreak of the disease in this country. Furthermore, anyone coming from an FMD-affected region should avoid entering a farm for 14 days following arrival in Ireland to prevent the risk of contaminated clothing, footwear, vehicles or equipment coming into contact with livestock.

Any vehicles bringing livestock or horses from Hungary, Slovakia or any other affected area to Ireland should be thoroughly disinfected. Officials have carried out a communications campaign for type 2 transporters - that is, people authorised to transport animals - in this regard. I can confirm that there have been no movements of FMD-susceptible species, namely cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, buffalo and camelids, into Ireland from any of the impacted areas in the period since 1 January 2025, which is the potential risk period.

Within my Department, preparations are ongoing to heighten our preparedness for all eventualities and to ensure a prompt and effective response to any suspect FMD case. I thank the Deputy for raising this. I understand she is doing so based on the experience of people in Louth had at the time of the FMD outbreak in 2001. We never want to experience that again. The Deputy should rest assured that if, God forbid, there is another outbreak, we stand ready.

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