Dáil debates

Tuesday, 4 October 2005

3:00 pm

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to the discovery of BSE in an animal born in Wales in 2002; the latest date on which an infected animal was born here; her views on the implications of the discovery in Wales; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26462/05]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware both of the confirmation of BSE in an animal born in Wales in 2002 and the reports of BSE being transmitted in an experimental sheep flock in the United Kingdom. There are no particular implications for Ireland as a result of either incident.

To date, 16 cases of BSE have been confirmed here in animals born after 1998, the most recent of which had a registered date of birth of March 2001. Similarly, the reports of BSE in a sheep flock, while informative, have no particular implications for BSE policy here.

The occurrence of BSE in animals born after 1998 does not detract from the decline in the incidence of the disease here and throughout the European Union. The epidemiological evidence here and in the United Kingdom suggests that a tight control on the use of mammalian meat and bone meal plays a significant role in reducing the incidence of the disease. It has been suggested in the UK that these cases may be related to imported feed as the controls in place in Ireland and the UK since 1996 were not introduced EU-wide until 2000. Given the incubation period for BSE, we will, at EU level, have to wait several more years before the full effect of the complete ban on the use of processed animal proteins can be measured.

Apart from the aforementioned case in the UK, no case of BSE has been identified in the EU sheep population despite the fact that testing, which is capable of discriminating BSE from scrapie, is now mandatory throughout the EU. Were such a case to be identified here consideration would have to be given to how to deal with the affected flock and the progeny of the affected animal. Although a case of BSE has been confirmed in a single goat in France, no such cases have been experienced in Ireland and should such a case be confirmed here decisions about control measures would have to be taken. The Department continues to operate a range of controls at various locations to protect public health and eradicate BSE and scrapie.

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for her reply. While we all welcome the decline in the overall number of reported cases of BSE, does the Minister not consider it a cause of grave concern that 16% of the animals identified this year as carrying the disease were born after the ban on the use of processed animal proteins was introduced? Two of the animals in question were five years old. Seven other animals identified as having BSE by August this year were born after the ban was introduced. Therefore, a substantial number of animals identified this year as having BSE were born after the introduction of the ban. What research or investigations are the Department carrying out on this development?

4:00 pm

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Sixteen animals born after 1997 have been diagnosed with BSE, of which four were born in 1998, seven in 1999, three in 2000 and two in 2001. A further ten cases were confirmed in animals born in 1997 but a number of these were born before the full range of control measures was in place. The Department carries out an investigation into each of the comparatively small number of cases of animals which were born after the introduction of the ban on the use of animal proteins in feed being identified as having BSE. These cases are examined by my Department with support from outsourced expertise.

While the Department has not yet reached a definitive conclusion on the reason these cases have occurred, it has been advised by scientific experts at European level that sporadic outbreaks of the disease are likely to persist. In some cases, presumably the earliest, evidence of spicules was found in or around the farmyard in question. These occurred after Ireland introduced a ban on the use of animal proteins in feed but before the European Union issued an EU wide ban. As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland introduced a ban in 1996 or 1997 but some other countries did not follow suit until 2000. There was, therefore, an interregnum.

A comparison of the number of cases of BSE identified between January and September this year and January and September last year shows the figure fell from 96 to 50, a significant reduction.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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There is a one minute time limit.

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the Deputy's particular concern on this issue. We are doing everything we can to ascertain if there are particular issues as to why this occurs. However, I have been advised that there will always be sporadic incidents and that is reflected in the UK also.

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I accept there will be sporadic incidents but I would be interested to know if anybody has done a geographical audit on the areas where BSE has occurred. These are not just sporadic incidents. Such an audit might be worthy of consideration.

James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Given the concerns raised by Deputy Johnny Brady yesterday on the MRSA superbug being passed on by veterinarians to the beef cattle herd, what is the danger involved? What precautions will the Minister take to ensure that this deadly disease is not passed on to the food chain by the veterinarians carrying the MRSA superbug? It is a dangerous and serious disease. If it reaches humans through the food chain, it will be more serious than the BSE crisis.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Brady might explain himself when he is on his feet.

Photo of Johnny BradyJohnny Brady (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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As I have not been promoted yet, I cannot answer Deputy Breen's question.

Does the Minister see a change arising in the practice of culling entire herds affected by BSE? Many farmers and organisations, such as those we met in her county last week, raised this issue. They feel that only the affected animal or related animals should be culled. Is a change likely in that area?

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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A number of issues have been raised. On Deputy Upton's question, we have looked at the geographical spread. There have been investigations and last week there was a prosecution for an illegal animal knackery circumventing the controls. Where issues outside of the scientific aspects arise, the Department deals with them strictly.

I did not get a copy of the press release on MRSA to which Deputy James Breen referred but I sympathise with people who have suffered from MRSA. It is a considerable imposition on them. Perhaps the Deputy and I could discuss the issue afterwards and I will certainly raise it on his behalf.

There is evidence that perhaps the necessity of a cull has outweighed its usefulness. That being said, I have noticed that every time we try to pull back from the precautionary measures brought forward, we find something else. The strictness of the regime is such that we are in a position to be strong in our export markets. As we are trying to enter even more markets, that strict control mechanism may need to continue for some time but it is reviewed on an ongoing basis.