Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 84: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the latest figures for new variant CJD in the Republic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35443/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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There have been two confirmed cases of new variant CJD in Ireland to date. The first concerned a woman who had lived in England for 20 years. Given the long incubation period of variant CJD, the probability is that the disease was not contracted in Ireland. The second concerned a 24 year old Dublin male. The probability is that he contracted it before the current very strict controls on the sale of meat in Ireland were brought into force in 1996. A third suspected case arose in June of this year concerning a young man in a Dublin hospital.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I thank the Minister of State for that information. Have we developed a reliable diagnostic test for new variant CJD? This has long been an issue for the World Health Organisation. The Minister of State referred to the incubation period. Do we have reliable projections for the number of people who could develop new variant CJD in this country, either from the consumption of beef in Ireland or the United Kingdom, which appears to be the most likely source?

Have we developed proper care for people who have contracted new variant CJD. From the cases in Belfast I know that the parents of one individual were not satisfied with the care the young person in question received.

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The CJD advisory group provides scientific, professional and technical advice on all aspects of CJD and the policy responses that are appropriate in the light of evolving information and the evidence on this topic.

Fortunately, the number of people contracting this disease has been small. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Department of Agriculture and Food are responsible for the control of BSE. The Food Safety Authority stresses that the BSE controls that have been put in place since 1996 are very strict and robust so as to ensure maximum consumer protection. There has been a welcome decline in the incidence of BSE in the Irish cattle population, which demonstrates that the controls introduced in 1996 are working. The vast majority of current cases are in animals born before the introduction of these enhanced controls. We would not anticipate an increase in the incidence of new variant CJD. There is no evidence at present to suggest the number of people contracting CJD will increase.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Do we have a reliable diagnostic test at present?

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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We are in the process of developing it and it is not yet finalised. I understand it will be shortly.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I am curious to know whether this is within the remit of the Minister of State. Does he have responsibility for this area?

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I am replying to the question because of the variant CJD aspect.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Health promotion.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I am curious. Is that the area of responsibility of the Minister of State?

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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That is why I am dealing with the question.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I was just asking. It is.

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Yes.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Does that mean the Minister of State's area of responsibility extends to MRSA? Where does the boundary occur? What area of responsibility does the Minister of State have that includes new variant CJD?

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I have responsibility for health promotion within the Department of Health and Children. If the Deputy wants, I will provide her with a breakdown of responsibilities of the Tánaiste and the three Ministers of State at the Department of Health and Children.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State.