Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the Government will consider the establishment of a national biosecurity unit, similar to the one operating in New Zealand, to take overall responsibility for the exclusion, eradication and control of risks posed by pests or diseases to the economy, the environment or human health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34275/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's high animal and plant health status underpins food safety and is central to the viability of our agriculture industry and our ability to trade. To this end, the Department of Agriculture and Food applies comprehensive control systems to the threats posed by pests and disease to both animal and plant health and, as a consequence, to human health. Sustained programmes are operated, aimed at the continued reduction and eventual eradication of diseases such as TB, brucellosis, BSE and scrapie in the national herd and flock. In a further step to the maintenance of high standards of food production, the Department has introduced a system of identification and traceability for bovine, ovine, porcine and caprine animals.

The Department plays a vital role in regulating the plant health sector to prevent the import of harmful pests and diseases, the prevention of contaminants and the overall maintenance of high standards of quality which contribute to safer food. The range of biosecurity controls applied by the Department are underpinned by EU regulations and are subject to regular audit by the European Commission's food and veterinary office. It is essential that we are, at all times, vigilant and continue to reassess and, where necessary, improve our capability of dealing effectively with threats posed by pests or disease. In this regard, it is worth pointing to the recent updating and reissuing of biosecurity advice to poultry flock owners in an effort to minimise the risk of the introduction of avian flu.

The retention of high biosecurity standards is vital for the maintenance of high standards of public health and animal health as well as ensuring we continue to have an effective base from which to further develop a successful agrifood sector. The production of safe food and the maintenance of public confidence must be underpinned by effective control systems. Maintaining a high standard of animal health and welfare is an important issue and is a critical requirement for the development of trade.

Ireland enjoys a high plant health status, supported through a programme of controls and inspections. Before any plant protection product can be sold to a grower, it must conform to rigid standards which meet EU and Irish legislation. Furthermore, the Department's annual pesticide residue monitoring involves the analysis of fruit, vegetables, cereals and other food, including meat, milk and other dairy products.

In our approach to this issue, we must take full account of evolving EU legislation and work closely with the European Commission and our EU partners in responding to any crisis.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

I am conscious that the threat posed by pests or diseases could result in substantial economic damage, not alone in agriculture but across a number of sectors, with attendant social consequences throughout the country and for the environment. The New Zealand model involved the establishment, by its Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, of a biosecurity strategic unit, with people drawn from four existing biosecurity agencies and reports directly to the ministry's director general. I am satisfied that the arrangements within the Department of Agriculture and Food for the development and implementation of biosecurity policies are sufficiently comprehensive and robust to deal with the threats posed by pests or disease.

The Department has detailed contingency plans in place for the handling of outbreaks of class A OIE diseases. The plans are the product of indepth review by the Department, with the involvement of other relevant agencies. These plans have stood us well in the past, most recently in regard to the outbreak of FMD but also with previous outbreaks of Newcastle disease in 1997 and the last outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza in 1998.

While my Department will always play the lead role, we, of course, welcome the constructive and significant contributions that other Departments and agencies have to make. We are, all the time, ready to reassess the adequacy of our existing biosecurity advice and, based on any new and emerging information, to revise any biosecurity arrangements, as appropriate.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for her answer but it referred to agriculture only. My question relates to a more comprehensive plan for biosecurity. While I understand the role of the Department of Agriculture and Food in this area, my question relates to the need for an overall co-ordinating biosecurity unit. This was prompted by the concerns surrounding avian flu and its implications for public health, trade, foreign travel and agriculture.

Who will take the lead in setting up a co-ordinating biosecurity unit? If someone has a broad question, to which Department or unit do they focus it? There is a need for a co-ordinating unit rather than each individual Department having responsibility for its own area. Does the Minister see the Department of Agriculture and Food taking a lead role in establishing such a unit?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Unfortunately, the answer to the question was long. The Deputy spoke of the New Zealand model where a biosecurity unit in its agriculture ministry reports to the ministry's director general. However, I do not believe there is a need to have such a unit in Ireland. The New Zealand model is different because it is an island——

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Ireland is too.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It does not have the supports of the EU, the Commission's food and veterinary office or the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. We have EU and Irish legislation while the New Zealand model is based on what it must do on its own.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is the lead Department in dealing with animal and plant disease outbreaks. It provides a specific co-ordinating role and contingency plans are in place to work with the Department of Health and Children. The Department had a co-ordinating role in combating the foot and mouth disease outbreak. I do not see the need to establish a specific biosecurity unit. That could only be done in a developmental way if issues arise. Contingency plans within the Department of Agriculture and Food are such that they encompass many Departments that would be equally concerned.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I appreciate legislation is in place, but legislation alone will not be adequate when it is widely known the facility exists for micro-organisms to jump the species barrier. Avian flu is a classic example of where it affects not only poultry but also pigs and it is a risk to human health. We can have as much legislation as we want, but much of what exists is not enforced the way it should be, particularly with imports and people travelling in and out of the State. There is a need for a co-ordinating body to incorporate human and animal health.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is important that a Department takes the lead on this issue. The Department of Agriculture and Food will deal specifically with the issue in question. Without a shadow of a doubt, constructive and significant contributions from other Departments and agencies are welcome. The Department is always ready to reassess the adequacy of our biosecurity measures. Our biosecurity arrangements will be revised if new information becomes available, which we are afforded through EU channels and early warning systems. In one way we have the luxury of having a European-wide opportunity, from the veterinary point of view, to listen, learn and evaluate what comes from the European Community and experts. I am hoping to have emerging information on which to act.