Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she intends to take to protect against the spread of avian flu here, having regard not just to the threat to the avian population but also the dangers to humans; if any assessment has been done of the dangers of the flu spreading from migratory birds; if she will improve the monitoring of foodstuffs coming here, especially food that may be carried by individual passengers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26534/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I hope the Ceann Comhairle will allow me to finish the extensive reply to this important question.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Minister has two minutes.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I ask for a bit more than that.

A particularly virulent high pathogenic strain of avian influenza has been affecting countries in south-east Asia since December 2003. Both Russia and Kazakhstan confirmed the presence of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain in poultry in August. The high pathogenic strain has not been reported anywhere in the European Union since 2003, when there was an outbreak in the Netherlands.

It is important to realise that avian influenza is a disease of birds and while people can become infected, they rarely do. There is no evidence that the virus can be transmitted from poultry to humans other than by direct contact with infected birds. Notwithstanding the approximately 60 deaths in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, the World Health Organisation takes the view that the experience in south-east Asia, "indicates that human cases of infection are rare". The majority of deaths have occurred in rural areas and most have been linked to direct exposure to dead or diseased poultry, particularly during slaughtering, defeathering and food preparation. According to the WHO, no cases have been confirmed in poultry workers nor have any cases been linked to the consumption of properly cooked poultry meat or eggs.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, there are concerns that a possible mutation or a genetic change in the virus circulating in Asia could lead to the virus transforming into a new strain of influenza capable of human-to-human transmission. Responsibility for preparing for such an eventuality rests with the Department of Health and Children and its agencies. My Department is a very active participant in that Department's influenza pandemic expert group and is contributing to update its influenza pandemic plan.

As regards the disease in poultry, I share the conclusion of the standing committee on the food chain and animal health working group on avian influenza that the confirmation of the high pathogenic outbreaks in Russia and Kazakhstan is a cause for serious concern and I acknowledge that the key to limiting the extent of any outbreak is early detection and rapid action.

Since the confirmation of the outbreaks in Russia and Kazakhstan, my Department has been very active in reviewing all aspects of our contingency arrangements and several measures have been taken to improve our preparedness to deal with any suspect or confirmed outbreak. Given the critical importance of early detection, my Department has, with the assistance of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the National Association of Regional Game Councils andBirdWatch Ireland, introduced an early warning system where increased or unusual patterns of wild bird mortality are observed. This early warning system is just part of a more intensified approach to surveillance, including surveillance of wild birds and poultry. The 2005-06 poultry surveillance programme is already under way and my Department has made arrangements for increasing levels of wild bird surveillance at a number of locations throughout the country. In addition, officials from my Department have recently met their colleagues from the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and have agreed to continue to work closely together and to exchange the results of their respective wild bird surveillance programmes. The two Departments will review progress at a further scheduled meeting this month.

Migratory birds can carry the viruses for long distances and have, in the past, been implicated in the spread of high pathogenic avian influenza.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Minister's time has concluded.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is an extensive answer.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

In August the Commission expert group considered the possibility that the disease could be imported into the EU via migratory birds, particularly water birds and concluded, based on the existing knowledge of migratory routes of the species of birds proceeding from central and western Asia and that might pose a threat of spreading the H5N1 virus, that 'the immediate risk of introduction of avian influenza through these birds is probably remote or low.' According to BirdWatch Ireland, most of the birds breeding in the affected areas of Siberia will migrate for the winter to the south and east of Europe and to Asia and will not visit Ireland.

The EU Commission recently extended until September 2006 safeguard measures that have been in place since 23 January 2004. Furthermore, these measures, which originally applied only to affected countries in south-east Asia, have now been extended to Russia and Kazakhstan. These measures include a ban on live poultry, birds other than poultry and poultry products, other than heat-treated poultry meat and treated feathers.

Poultry meat that is properly cooked does not present a risk of infection as the virus is destroyed at temperatures at or above 70 degrees Celsius. My Department has increased its checks on commercial products and products in personal luggage from all affected countries. There is no evidence to indicate that untreated poultry meat is being imported illegally. In addition, my Department is currently reviewing the information we make available to flock owners on biosecurity and clinical signs of the disease, as well as to travellers, particularly to those countries which are infected.

While we take all reasonable steps to avoid an outbreak of avian influenza, particularly because of the potential threat posed by migrating wild birds we cannot dismiss the possibility of an outbreak. Our resources are focused on ensuring early detection and speedy eradication and minimising any risk to public health. The measures already put in place are designed to ensure that any suspect outbreak is investigated quickly and the existence of the virus confirmed or otherwise. My Department has been ensuring that the appropriate technical and veterinary staff is properly equipped to deal with any suspect/confirmed outbreak and we have examined all aspects associated with the destruction of inflected flocks and the subsequent disposal of the carcases. Officials from my Department recently participated in a successful trial slaughter of poultry in Northern Ireland. This is further evidence of the level of cooperation between the two Departments.

I fully acknowledge the risks associated with an outbreak of avian influenza and accept that there is no room for complacency. Notwithstanding the low probability of an outbreak of the high pathogenic strain that might pose a risk to human health, my Department is maintaining a vigilant approach to the threat posed and constantly reviewing the adequacy of our contingency arrangements in the light of any new information that emerges.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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The recent warning from the World Health Organisation contained a staggering statistic of the probability of between 5 million and 150 million projected deaths from a 'flu pandemic and this warning should be heeded by all.

I appreciate the important role to be played by the Minister's Department and the perhaps more significant role to be played by the Department of Health and Children. However, some of the issues refer specifically to agriculture. What controls are in place at airports and other ports to oversee the import of any foodstuffs, particularly in light of the risk from avian influenza?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I reiterate that vigilance is uppermost in our minds. The Department and its counterpart in the North work in co-ordination with each other as does the Department and the Department of Health and Children and other agencies. I reassure the Deputy that the evolving scientific evidence as provided by the EU will be reflected in our contingency plans. Vigilance is being maintained in the airports and ports. I assure the House that live poultry imports from the countries referred to in my reply are banned. Cooked poultry products are not banned. The Department is maintaining vigilance in this matter and will not be complacent. I applaud the co-operation between North and South. Ireland will work with its EU partners in supporting those countries that do not have the capability to deal with the outbreaks.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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What specific advice on this matter has been given to the poultry industry? If there was an outbreak of avian flu, it would have economic consequences for that industry and a subsequent impact on human health.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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All those involved in the sector have been informed about this matter and information leaflets have been made available. In the event of an outbreak of this disease, those at the frontline would include not only those involved in the poultry sector but Department officials who are fully au fait with the implications. My Department has ensured that those officials have the necessary equipment in the unlikely event of this matter arising.