Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the early warning system for the prevention of the arrival and spread of the avian flu H5NI which she has put in place and if this incorporates recommendations made to member states by the European Food Safety Authority on the matter. [28439/05]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will be issuing a recommendation that all free range chickens be kept inside as part of the precautionary measures against the spread of the avian flu H5NI. [28440/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 135 together.

My Department has been and is continuing to assess the risk of the introduction of avian influenza into Ireland and to keep its contingency arrangements under constant review. While continuing to maintain a vigilant approach, the Department will maintain a measured approach and ensure that such steps as are considered appropriate are put in place taking account of the level of risk.

The Department has introduced an early warning system with the assistance of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the National Association of Regional Game Councils and Birdwatch Ireland. This system, which involves the reporting of increased or unusual patterns of wild bird mortality, is part of a more intensified approach to wild bird surveillance and is a critical element in the early detection of the disease. As part of our approach to increased surveillance, my Department has had a number of recent meetings with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland. The two Departments have undertaken to continue to work closely together and to exchange the results of their respective wild bird surveillance programmes. In addition, my Department has updated its biosecurity advice for poultry flockowners, reissued information on the symptoms of exotic poultry diseases and issued information to poultry flockowners on measures to reduce the risk of introducing avian influenza.

Following the confirmation of the outbreaks of avian influenza in Turkey and Romania, which I agree with the EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection are very worrying, my Department reassessed the risk of the introduction of the disease into Ireland. Following that assessment, I have decided to introduce a number of additional measures commensurate with the increased risk. Specifically, I asked my officials to request further support from the Customs and Excise service to supplement my Department's efforts, and I been assured of their full co-operation and assistance in support of our efforts. Additional resources from my Department are also being deployed at Dublin Airport. I have also arranged that the advice to travellers to and from countries affected by avian influenza be updated and reissued. This updated advice is published in today's national newspapers and is, like all the other information-advice notices, available on my Department's website Having considered the recent developments, my Department has again considered the compulsory housing of all free-range poultry but has decided that, taking full account of the risk, such a measure is not necessary at this stage. Like all contingency measures, this will continue to be kept under constant review. I am satisfied that my Department has and is continuing to put in place such measures as are appropriate to the level of risk at this time. My Department has at all times complied fully with its international obligations and is operating to best practice. In that regard, I am satisfied that the measures introduced to date incorporate the recommendations of various international organizations, including the EFSA.