Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I, too, extend a warm welcome to the students form St. Joseph's and thank them for showing an interest in what we do here on behalf of the citizens of Ireland.

I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this issue. He has been in touch with me already about this and I know it is something he has a real concern about. I express my sympathy, and that of the Government, with the flock owners impacted at this really difficult time in counties Monaghan, Meath and Carlow. I acknowledge the impact this outbreak is having on the wider poultry industry. I come from a small farm myself and I know the impact the outbreak of a disease has on a family and community, and the flock owners in this case are no different. I also thank all flock owners for their ongoing co-operation and for adhering to the biosecurity measures the Senator talked about and the housing regulations that are now in place. By working together, we can help to protect our poultry sector during this really challenging time.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has moved swiftly to implement disease control measures in line with national and EU legislation. Following the confirmation of this disease, the Department is working closely with industry to protect the poultry sector. Restriction zones, as the Senator identified, of 3 km protection and 10 km surveillance, are established around the affected premises, with strict movement controls on the movement of poultry and poultry products. Veterinary investigations and surveillance are ongoing. A mandatory housing order for poultry and captive birds, with a ban on gatherings of different birds from different holdings, came into effect on Monday, 10 November. It is a dynamic and evolving situation, particularly during the current high-risk period for avian influenza due to the migration of wild birds and the extended survival of the virus in cold temperatures. Our Department continues to monitor the situation closely and is working closely with the industry and Northern Ireland colleagues to mitigate the risk and control the disease insofar as we can.

Unfortunately, Ireland has lost its highly pathogenic avian influenza, HPAI, disease-free status on foot of these recent outbreaks. This does not stop trade but it does have some specific consequences for trade in poultry meat and eggs. The HSE has advised that the risk to public health from the strain of the avian influenza currently circulating is considered low for the general public and low to medium for occupationally exposed people.

In regard to the compensation measures, the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides that compensation to owners of animals may be payable if a cull of those animals is directed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and in the event of a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak. The compensation may relate to the animal that is culled or to an animal product, animal feed or similar item that is destroyed in relation to the outbreak. Compensation may not exceed the open market value of the animal or indeed the item and compensation is payable only to the owner of the animals or items affected. My Department will, of course, actively engage with the owners of the stocks impacted at this stage. As we are in the early stages, it is hard to quantify the impact. What I have outlined for the Senator is that legislation and what it provides for. The Department will engage with the herd owners through local officers, as it would already be doing. As we move through this phase we will work with herd or flock owners to identify what compensation is payable based on direction given by the Department.