Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of cases of BSE in cattle discovered in 2004 and to date in 2005; the number of those cattle that were born after 1996 when a ban on meat and bonemeal was imposed; the counties in which these cattle came from; the reason cases of such animals are still being discovered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34276/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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A total of 126 cases of BSE were confirmed in 2004 compared to 182 in 2003 and 333 in 2002. To date in 2005 there have been 61 cases, which represents a decrease of 46% on the number of cases discovered in the same period in 2004. The majority of all confirmed cases were animals born prior to the introduction of the additional controls in 1996 and 1997. The age profile of BSE cases as well as the significant reduction in case numbers indicates that these additional controls have been effective in reducing the exposure to the infectious agent of animals born after 1997. It is anticipated that the incidence of disease will continue to decline as cows born prior to 1998 leave the system.

Where BSE is confirmed, a detailed epidemiological investigation is undertaken, in which the feeding regime used is an essential element, particularly in cases where the animals were born after the feed controls were reinforced. However, the specific causes of the post-1997 cases have not been definitively established as the events of interest took place several years earlier.

To date, BSE has been confirmed in 16 animals born after 1997. In addition, ten cases were confirmed in 1997-born animals of which a number were born before all of the reinforced measures were put fully in place that year. My Department had foreseen the likelihood that cases such as these would arise from time to time that would relate to circumstances specific to the farms in question and would not conform with the general trend as the incidence of the disease in the national herd recedes. Similar cases have occurred elsewhere, particularly in the United Kingdom and Canada. However, there is no basis for suspecting that these cases are indicative of either a systemic failure in controls or a reversal of or deviation from the overall positive trend in relation to BSE in Ireland.

The 16 cases born after 1997 were detected in counties Monaghan, four cases, Cavan, three cases, Cork and Kerry, two cases each, and one case each in counties Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo, Meath and Sligo. The Deputy will be aware that stringent controls are operated in Ireland in the context of protecting consumers and eradicating BSE. These controls are operated by my Department in the export plants and in the case of small local abattoirs by the local authorities under the supervision of the FSAI.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The controls have been and remain subject to ongoing external audit and examination by a range of bodies, including the FSAI and the EU Commission Food and Veterinary Office. Based on extensive examination in 1998, the EU categorised Ireland's position in respect of BSE controls as being optimally stable, which is the highest category of control effectiveness. The Irish BSE control system is also subject to examination by the veterinary and public health authorities in certain non-EU beef importing countries.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I am curious about the numbers. The Minister said 61 cases have been identified to date in 2005.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Yes.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Examining the numbers on a percentage basis, I calculate that nine were born either in 1997 or later, which is approximately 15%.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Not in 2005.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I calculate that there were nine cases in 2005. I can give the Minister the dates if she wishes me to work my way through each of them. On 2 September there was a five year old, on 26 August there was a five year old, on 29 July there was a four year old and on 3 June there were two aged five and eight. Of the 61, I counted nine on the Department of Agriculture and Food's website, which is approximately 15%.

Apart from the specifics of the issue, is 15% not a substantial percentage? I accept that the numbers are dwindling year on year from 2003, as indicated by the data the Minister has given the House. However, it is of some considerable concern that so many animals have been burned after the ban was introduced. It would appear that no identifiable reasons have been provided yet. It is quite a substantial percentage.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Investigations have been completed into eight of the cases involving post-1997 births. They are both dairy and suckler farms and I have stated the counties which are affected. It has not been possible to establish definitively the source of the disease in individual cases as they occurred several years ago. In two of the cases, the positive animals may have been exposed to infection through environmental contamination with bovine carcass parts associated with the illegal knackeries. The Department took a prosecution on 7 September 2005 on my behalf on that basis.

It is difficult to give definitive answers but the only assurances I can give the House is that they will be fully investigated and that the checks and balances within the food system are such that these animals do not move into the food chain. This is a very important matter. The Department has very strict controls and methodology. All the herd must be slaughtered when there is an incidence of BSE and I am aware many farmers have concerns about this policy. Independent supervision is provided by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

The other assurance I can give the House is that the Department has been informed by the scientific advisers that there is no definitive way of deciding on a total eradication over a certain period. We should all welcome the significant reduction in the numbers of BSE found and for this I thank all those Members and everyone in the sector who was involved. I do not have an answer, nor does anyone else, in my view, as to the reason there are still animals born before 1997 who have BSE. The advice is there can be sporadic instances, for example, one in a million. This may not give a full and definitive answer but I assure the House it is fully investigated and all information is made available to the Department.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Will the Minister confirm there is an investigation ongoing for each and every one of these cases? It is clear there will be difficultiesin establishing a specific reason but it is necessary that as thorough an investigation as possible be concluded and the House informed of the outcome, if there is one, in each of those cases born after 1997.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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There has been one very public case which was the prosecution taken in Tralee on 7 September. Another similar case involves an illegal knackery. Of the other cases, some have not been in a position to give us any information. The Department is very strict regarding the feed industry. This time last year, there was a debacle involving three loads of bone speckle which caused consternation. The consternation was necessary because these are the issues which are brought forward and which are a cause of grave concern to the Department. The Department is reminding those involved in the feed industry. Farmers are acutely aware of this issue.

On the question of storage, a number of years ago the ban was for ruminants and not necessarily for other animals and there may have been cross-contamination at the time which was many years ago. A calf may have gone into a place where it should not have been. The Deputy can rest assured that these cases will be fully investigated. When any new scientific information becomes available, it is used in these investigations. Like the Deputy, the Department also wants to achieve an end result.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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That completes Priority Questions. We now come to the other questions. I remind the House that supplementary questions will be answered but are subject to a limit of one minute.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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I remind the Minister that the clock is ticking.