Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator Ardagh's amendment to the Order of Business.

There have been five confirmed cases of the H5N8 avian bird flu in Ireland. In December the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, introduced regulations under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, requiring the compulsory housing of poultry, which I welcome. It was a necessary move in order to avoid the spreading of the disease.

Last night's "Ear to the Ground" programme indicated that a major problem is coming down the tracks for poultry farmers who sell their produce as free-range. Hens that are housed for 12 continuous weeks will lose their free-range status. I want the Minister to address the issue and outline the provisions he may be putting in place. It would be serious for those producers to lose their free-range status due to their prudence in obeying the rules to try to avoid the spread of the disease. There needs to be a plan for the status of those free-range producers if the 12-week period is reached. Can some alternative rules be put in place temporarily because of special nature of the present situation?