Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Bradford for raising this important matter. It gives me the opportunity to state the Department's position on it.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, PRRSV, causes a disease in pigs called porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, PRRS, also known as blue-ear pig disease, and is a widespread disease affecting domestic pigs. The symptoms include reproductive failure, pneumonia and increased susceptibility to secondary bacterial infection. It is caused by a virus classified as a member of the genus Arterivirus. PRRS was first recognised in the United States in 1987 and the causative virus was identified in the Netherlands in 1991. The virus is often transmitted by the movement of infected animals. Pigs born to infected dams may not show disease signs, but can still shed the virus. The virus is also found in faeces, urine and semen and can be spread by vehicles or supplies. Insects have also been found to be a potential source of spread. The virus may also be wind borne.

The clinical signs are reproductive failure in sows and respiratory disease in young pigs. The reproductive failure is characterised by infertility, abortions, stillbirths or the birth of weak piglets that often die of respiratory failure after birth. The stage of gestation or the immune status of the sow determines the effects of infection. Diagnosis is made on serological testing and commercial vaccines are available and have been effective in controlling outbreaks and economic losses.

PRRS is notifiable in accordance with the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (Notification and Control of Animal Diseases) Order 2008, Statutory Instrument 101 of 2008. This order requires the compulsory notification of a number of diseases to my Department. Where such diseases are notified, a number of options are available. The options depend on the actual disease. Notification of a disease does not prescribe that any specific action must be taken by my Department.

There are no specific rules governing PRRS at EU level. PRRS is considered endemic in many areas of the Union. PRRS was retained as notifiable under Irish legislation as it was identified in only a relatively small number of Irish pig farms and the controls applied were designed to minimise the opportunity of spread from infected herds to clear herds. The controls applied included the restriction of the movement of pigs and products or by-products except under licence. This policy was developed in agreement with the Irish pig industry, which used PRRS freedom as a quality assurance mechanism. It also enabled certification of products to certain third countries that required that product only be supplied from PRRS free herds.

The existing rules were modified last September. The key changes include that PRRS remains a notifiable disease - herds that have clinical signs of PRRS must report the disease to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; herds will no longer be restricted for the disease; all herds that were restricted at the time were de-restricted immediately; herds that notify the Department of outbreaks will be placed on a central list at headquarters to allow basic monitoring of the situation and to assist in the certification of meat at factory level - this is now a "notified list", not a restricted list as was the case previously; herds can be removed from this "notified list" if they can provide a veterinary certificate that there have been no clinical signs of PRRS for the past six months; vaccines must still be applied for from the medicines section; and as these herds are no longer restricted, they are not excluded from trade in live pigs to Northern Ireland. There have been no adverse effects on third country exports.

With regard to compensation, like Senator Bradford I acknowledge that there are many jobs and significant investment in this business. People have spent significant amounts on providing better accommodation for their animals. The figure of €40 million suggested by the Senator is one on which I could agree. I understand why people who have invested so heavily are extremely concerned. However, the fact that a disease is notifiable does not confer any right to compensation. Compensation in respect of losses due to disease is not automatic. In fact, compensation is only considered where a diseased animal is slaughtered by order of the Department for the purposes of preventing spread of the disease to other livestock.

There is no aid scheme in place in Ireland to provide compensation to farmers whose herds are affected by PRRS. As the Senator may be aware, any compensation provided to farmers in the context of an outbreak of disease is subject to state aid rules which are laid down at EU level. These rules prescribe, inter alia, that compensation for losses due to animal diseases can only be considered where there is an appropriate programme at EU, national or regional level for the prevention, control or eradication of the disease concerned. Aids which simply compensate farmers for losses incurred without taking any steps to remedy the problem at source must be considered as pure operating aids which are incompatible with the Common Market. There is no national eradication programme involving the payment of compensation in place in Ireland and there are no plans to introduce such a programme.

However, in view of the seriousness of the situation outlined by the Senator, I will ensure this is monitored on an ongoing basis. It affects a large number of people who have put much investment into this sector.