Seanad debates
Wednesday, 6 November 2013
Adjournment Matters
Animal Diseases Issues
8:30 pm
Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me this opportunity to raise an issue that is of significant concern to pig farmers throughout the country. I am delighted to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, to the House. He and his family have a long-standing knowledge and experience of the industry in question. As such, I am sure he has a particular concern for the pig farmers who are currently facing severe financial distress.
The Minister of State will be aware that a strategy for the future development of the agricultural and food sector, Food Harvest 2020, was devised by predecessors in his Department, along with their civil servants and representatives of the industry. Under those proposals, it was forecast that the pig industry might grow by as much as 30% or 40% in the coming years and produce significant additional output and jobs. It would, in short, be a win-win situation for all concerned. Unfortunately, however, the current crisis caused by the outbreak of blue ear disease in pigs could put all of that potential at risk.
I will not go into the background of the recent disease outbreak; I am sure the Minister of State is fully acquainted with it. I am asking that he and his officials sit down with the affected parties and various interest groups to see what can be done to provide relief. It has been estimated that up to 33% of the national herd is affected, which equates to some 48,0000 sows. Pig farmers are losing significant income as a result of the disease outbreak, at a time when they have spent extensive moneys in providing facilities required under the EU animal welfare regulations. In fact, an estimated €40 million was spent by pig farmers across the country by way of investment in animal welfare measures.
Now their income stream is being absolutely decimated. I am advised, for instance, that the national pig kill could be down by 10%. Some of the processing units, instead of working five or five and a half days per week, are currently operational for only three or four days. Jobs and income are being lost as pig farmers face this very grave crisis. Will the Minister of State give serious consideration to providing financial compensation? This is a sector which has had many difficult days and difficult battles but was certainly on the road to improvement.
Significant amounts of money have been taken from it and if we want the 2020 plan to succeed and to ensure the future of a strong pig industry in this country, with all that it offers, we must provide immediate financial assistance.
I ask the Minister to treat this crisis with the utmost seriousness and to offer some form of financial response.
8:40 pm
Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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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.
Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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I appreciate the Minister's interest and willingness to monitor the situation, but I am disappointed with his response. I am requesting that some type of financial compensation be put in place. The Minister outlined the reasons it cannot happen under certain analyses, but there obviously is a need for the Minister of State, the Minister and the officials to meet with the people who have been affected to see how the rules can be made more flexible and responsive. The Minister of State said that aids "which simply compensate farmers for losses incurred without taking any steps to remedy the problem... are incompatible with the Common Market." However, if a scheme were put in place that would take the required steps to remedy the problem at source, it will get around that issue. I appreciate that money is in short supply, not just in the Minister's Department but in every Department, but we must look on this as a long-term investment and an insurance policy to ensure that the pig industry will remain functioning, active and growing into the future.
I ask the Minister to talk to his officials and to officials at EU level. If the Oireachtas and the Department do nothing, this industry could reach a stage where it could be almost wiped out. We cannot afford to have between 30% and 50% of pig farmers made financially unviable as a result of this unfortunate outbreak. I am not expecting a miracle response tonight but I ask the Minister to enter into negotiations with the affected parties to see if some type of compromise and, most importantly, some degree of financial compensation can be found.
Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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I accept that the pig industry is hugely important in this country. Much investment has been put in place and it has become very intensive. It would be a huge loss for the country, particularly at a time when agriculture and the food industry are growing. There is enormous potential. Every time the Minister leaves the country he sees growing opportunities for our food industry. It is a very exciting industry.
However, I am not in a position, and it would be quite wrong, to say more. I will certainly discuss it with the officials and see what can be done. The situation might be getting worse than it was some time ago. I will revert to the Senator. If the Senator has specific cases in mind and some figures on the issue, perhaps he would furnish me with them and I will talk to the Minister and the officials. Money is scarce as the recent budget proved. It was very difficult to agree the budget. It took a lot of time and there was much pressure from sectors such as forestry, dairy and suckler producers. Across the agriculture industry we had difficulty getting the budget we succeeded in securing. However, if we can have a discussion on this issue, I will try to do something later for the Senator.