Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the matters raised at the recent General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting; if the threat of avian influenza was raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33276/05]

Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps being taken at European Union level to prepare for a possible outbreak of avian influenza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33274/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 66 together.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council, at its meeting of 7 November 2005, discussed the outcome of the recent informal European Council meeting in Hampton Court, the WTO, the financial perspectives for 2007-2013, avian influenza and several items in the area of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, briefed the Joint Committee on European Affairs on the full Council agenda at its meeting of 2 November 2005.

As regards to avian influenza, at its meeting on 18 October 2005, the General Affairs and External Relations Council resolved to keep this issue under close review and to return to it if required. In accordance with this decision, the Commission updated the Council at GAERC on Monday on recent developments, including the verification of the H5N1 virus in Croatia and the isolated case of H5N1 in a quarantined bird in the UK. The Council noted that, since its meeting of 18 October, avian influenza had been discussed at the informal meeting of Health Ministers on 20-21 October and at the Agriculture Ministers Council on 24-25 October. Council welcomed these productive discussions and noted Health Ministers' conclusions on the importance of effective co-ordination between EU member states that: clear, calm and consistent communication was the key; and that international co-operation with the World Health Organisation should be continued.

The Council also noted the Commission's intention to adopt communications on influenza pandemic preparedness and response planning in the EU, and on strengthening co-ordination on generic preparedness planning for public health emergencies in the Union. The UK Presidency has established a special co-ordination group to exchange information and ensure co-ordination at a strategic level concerning avian and pandemic influenza. A Council working group is progressing a new avian influenza directive.

As a precautionary measure, the Commission adopted as early as January 2004 several decisions to ensure that no poultry meat, untreated meat products and birds other than poultry — such as ornamental and pet birds — are imported from Asian countries where avian influenza has occurred, including Russia — Siberia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. These decisions have been amended to take into account recent outbreaks in Turkey, Romania and European Russia. A wide range of measures is already in place at Community level to prevent and control avian influenza and these have been updated following recent developments.

The Commission is promoting international co-ordination and a harmonised approach of donors to support poor countries most affected, particularly in Asia. In doing so, it is supporting the global plans prepared by the three international organisations, the International Office of Epizootics, Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Health Organisation, for a strategy emphasising control of the disease at source, while helping those countries to prepare for a possible influenza pandemic.