Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Real fears have been expressed about the possibility of diseased oyster seed being imported into the country from contaminated oyster hatcheries abroad, particularly from France. The marine environment and food safety services in the Marine Institute at Oranmore have confirmed that the oyster herpes virus has been found in up to 17 locations in various coastal areas around the country. There is therefore genuine concern in my constituency of west Galway about the possibility of contaminated oyster seed being brought in.

The oyster beds in Streamstown Bay, Kill Bay and the Claddaghduff, Cleggan areas of County Galway - on the north-west Connemara coast - are free of the disease, even though there was contamination in the nearby Mannin Bay area, with which I am familiar. There are a number of small oyster farmers in that north-west Connemara area who generate hundreds of thousands of euro worth of oysters every year. France is the main export outlet for our mature oyster crop. Even though there is a local hatchery in the area, some oyster seed may still be imported because of the trade links that have been built up over years in that area.

Controls are in place concerning the importation of oysters. While not totally prohibited any such importation is subject to certification by the relevant competent authority in the country of origin of the disease-free status of the consignment. I am not happy with that and neither are the oyster farmers. It amounts to self-regulation by the exporting country. Notwithstanding this provision, the Marine Institute also encourages producers to avoid importing oysters from contaminated areas. Furthermore, in the case of importation of oysters from abroad generally, producers are strongly advised to submit samples of the oyster to the Marine Institute for testing prior to importation.

That is all very well but it is a voluntary system. If possible, however, the Minister should make it compulsory to certify such samples at the Marine Institute in Oranmore, County Galway. The institute is competent to undertake that type of work and already does so on behalf of oyster farmers in the area.

It has been confirmed that a number of bays have been affected this year. Mannin Bay was temporarily closed and was only reopened approximately a month ago. It caused real concern to other fisheries in that area, however. Meanwhile, Streamstown Bay and Kill Bay in the Sky Road area have not been affected by the herpes virus and farmers who are cultivating oysters there want to keep it that way. They want the Government and Brussels to put controls in place to protect bays that have not yet been hit by the herpes virus.

I make it clear that the herpes virus has no impact on the health and safety of humans through consumption. It kills oysters and could wipe out 50% to 100% of the oyster beds where such contaminated seed is imported. At least 20 people are employed in that area of north-west Connemara as oyster farmers or helpers. If the disease gets into that area it will have a devastating effect on the livelihood of a large number of people where there are few other employment opportunities except farming and fishing.

The Minister of State should endeavour to put in place compulsory testing of imported oyster seed by environmental experts in our Marine Institute. This would solve the problem entirely, thus satisfying people that the disease cannot be brought in here. As the Minister of State acknowledged, it has occurred in up to 17 oyster farms in coastal areas throughout the country.

Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy McCormack for raising this issue, which we have discussed on several occasions. Prevention and control of the oyster herpes virus is a matter of high priority for my Department. Our current approach to this matter is to take all appropriate steps to minimise the risk of infection, while allowing trade in oysters to continue. This approach is supported by the aquaculture industry.

The importation of oyster seed is integral to the Irish oyster growing industry as there is not enough Irish seed to support the industry. The industry relies on imports, mainly from France, but also from the UK and the Channel Islands.

The European Commission has made a regulation, No. 175 of 2010, in line with the Fish Health Directive No. 88 of 2006, specifying measures which must be taken by member states to deal with the oyster herpes virus issue. It is important to note that the oyster herpes virus has no impact on human health, but can cause significant mortality in Pacific oysters. The Marine Institute is the competent authority in Ireland for the implementation of the fish health directive pursuant to Statutory Instrument No. 261 of 2008 and was involved in the negotiation of the regulation on the oyster herpes virus which came into effect on 15 March 2010. The regulation requires a surveillance programme to be established for the early detection of the virus in areas that have not previously been affected. It also requires containment areas to be established once the virus is detected in an oyster growing area, until such time as the mortalities subside and two mortality checks, 15 days apart, demonstrate that mortality has ceased.

There are currently four containment areas in Ireland: Caherciveen-Valentia, County Kerry; Carlingford Lough, County Louth; Cork Harbour, County Cork; and Sherkin, County Cork. Over the course of 2010, 14 areas were affected that are now out of containment, that is, the increased mortalities have ceased in these bays. These are Loughras Beg, Donegal Bay, Dungloe Bay, Lough Swilly, Lough Foyle, Trawbreaga Bay and Trawenagh Bay, all in County Donegal; Clew Bay and Achill Sound, both in County Mayo; Mannin Bay, County Galway; Cromane, County Kerry; Ballymacoda Bay, Youghal, County Cork; and Dungarvan Harbour and Woodstown Bay, County Waterford. The legislation allows oysters to be traded between containment areas. In order to import oysters to an area not previously affected by the virus the oysters must come from another area of similar health status. Under the legislation, oysters can also be imported from a containment area or an area previously affected by the virus provided they test negative in line with methods in the regulation and certified by the competent authority.

Controls are in place on the importation of oysters from containment areas, such as diseased areas in Ireland or abroad, to areas not previously affected. While not totally prohibited, any such importation is subject to certification by the relevant competent authority in France of the disease free status of the consignment. In other words, before any stock can be imported, testing as laid down in the regulation must take place, and be certified by the competent authority in France, and the resulting certificate must be provided to the Marine Institute before a movement can take place. Any movement outside these parameters is illegal.

In addition, the Marine Institute also encourages producers to avoid importing oysters from containment to surveillance areas. Furthermore, in the case of importation of oysters from abroad generally, producers are strongly advised to submit samples of the oysters to the Marine Institute for testing prior to importation. I strongly encourage producers to avail of the offer from the Marine Institute to test the oysters when they arrive in Ireland prior to stocking. My Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute, will continue to take all appropriate measures to protect Irish oyster stocks from this virus.