Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the role his Department's wildlife section will play in the battle against avian influenza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30429/05]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is participating in the development of Ireland's precautionary response to the risk of avian 'flu. Against the background that migratory birds may transmit the disease between countries and regions, the National Parks and Wildlife Service is assisting and providing advice on wildlife-related issues to the Department of Agriculture and Food.

The current focus of attention is on water birds such as ducks, geese and waders. My Department's input includes information on the migratory routes, location and abundance of birds that migrate to or transit through Ireland and assisting in obtaining samples from wild water birds as part of the ongoing screening process. Field staff of my Department throughout the country will also maintain surveillance for any unusual instances of sickness or deaths in wild bird populations.

My Department is considering possible additional measures should the virus reach western Europe, including limiting or stopping the hunting, capture and transport of wild birds and the closure of nature and wildfowl reserves and national parks to the public. The time and scale of any such actions will depend on ongoing assessment of the level of risk to be addressed.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. This is an important issue facing the entire country. I welcome the intention of the Minister but what timetable does he envisage? We need more than consideration of these issues. We need a decision from the Minister to proceed with the steps he outlined and if it means banning hunting and closing national parks, so be it. It is essential that we act. The reality is that it is unlikely we will keep avian influenza out of this country; it is already in the United Kingdom. I ask the Minister to consider increasing the level of urgency about the approach to be taken. While I welcome everything the Minister said, perhaps he could pay even more attention to what is happening in other European countries, although I understand many of the birds coming to us from the east travel west across the country. This is a very important issue.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We are very concerned and are on alert in regard to these matters. By way of background information, it appears the parrot that died in quarantine in the UK had tested negative for avian influenza. That was before the shipment from Surinam. It is important to note that the parrot was quarantined in shared air space with birds from Taiwan, some of which have since died. There is no evidence, therefore, of avian influenza being prevalent in the UK at present.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. The Minister said consideration had been given to banning wild fowling, but on what grounds would the Minister impose such a ban? When we were dealing with the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, almost everything was closed down but it appears we are adopting a blasé approach to this potential difficulty. When will the Minister introduce a ban on wild fowling?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We have quarantine laws in place here. The European Union operates as an individual unit. A meeting of EU Ministers was held today on this issue and a decision may be taken today, which will be taken unanimously by that unit. That decision is imminent. As far as we are concerned, we are on red alert regarding these matters and will take all the necessary precautions across departmental boundaries.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I understand no case of avian influenza has been detected yet here. Will the Minister of State indicate if there have been any cases suspected by his Department or staff that have been sent for testing as a result?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I confirm that no cases have been detected.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Have there been no suspicions?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There were some suspicions but from all the tests that have been carried out there is no evidence of the existence of avian influenza in Ireland.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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How many tests were carried out?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have that information with me but I can relay it to the Deputy.

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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In terms of the importation of wild or exotic birds, what practical controls can the Minister of State's Department put in place, what testing can be carried out and what staffing exists to supervise the importation of such birds?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In my earlier reply, I outlined the fact that various units of the organisation have been carrying out tests here and have also been monitoring exactly what is happening elsewhere internationally. They have acted in unison in negotiations with their European counterparts who are meeting today to decide what further measures may have to be taken regarding the importation of birds, including the possibility of a ban. That decision is likely to emanate from the meeting this afternoon, on foot of which we will continue to monitor the situation. To date, our monitoring indicates clearly that avian flu does not exist here.

There were some reports in Ireland but in all those cases no evidence has emerged. For instance, over the past ten days, six mute swans and cygnets were found dead in Kilcoole.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Kilcoole. Does the Minister, Deputy Roche, know about this?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Three foxes were also found dead in that location. A post mortem examination and virus isolation test are being carried out by the Department on a cygnet carcass. Nothing positive has been found and a final result of those tests will not be known for approximately ten days.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State referred to quarantine facilities but where are the imported birds currently being held in quarantine? How many birds are we talking about and for how long will they be in quarantine? Are they being kept separate from birds from other parts of the world where there may be no risk?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister of State require extra resources to continue increased monitoring and, if so, have those been made available to him?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am quite happy with the current level of monitoring available. The tabulated information the Deputy requires is not to hand, but I will ensure it is made available to him.