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

On the last point, as I outlined, there is no vaccine for BTV-12 but there is one for BTV-3 and that remains under consideration. On the Deputy's main point, the answer is that we are doing everything we can to try to keep this out. Obviously, we are not importing risk animals from risk areas. There is a risk, at the height of the season in high summer, of midges travelling over themselves from England and that is something we cannot mitigate against. In terms of identifying if it is here, doing so early is really important in order that we can put exclusion zones in place.

That is mitigation. We do not want it to happen and we are making every attempt to ensure it does not get here at all. However, it is important to have plans in place in order that, if it is here, we know as quickly as possible where it is. That is where the vigilance aspect comes in. There are enhanced biosecurity measures at our ports for vehicles coming from at-risk areas. Those efforts are continuing. We are doing everything we can to protect Ireland from what is a notifiable disease that would have a big impact on our trade.

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