Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the status of her Department's efforts to detect and combat avian influenza; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9501/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has in place a comprehensive and robust range of measures with a particular emphasis on maintaining high vigilance of the wild bird population, with the aid of ornithological organisations and has increased avian influenza surveillance.

In view of the role played by wild birds in spreading the avian flu virus, my Department's focus is on the early detection of any introduction of the disease in wild birds, minimising the risk of any subsequent transmission to the commercial poultry flock in the event of such a transmission and the efficient management of the outbreak.

Specifically, I made three statutory instruments earlier this month transposing three separate European Commission decisions allowing for additional precautionary measures to be taken in advance of any case as well as providing for the measures to be taken in response to a case in wild birds or an outbreak in poultry.

In deciding on the control measures to be taken, my Department is informed by the most up-to-date expert scientific and veterinary advice available. In particular, regard is being had to the spread of the virus and the increasing number of cases throughout the European Union, which increased the risk of introduction of the virus into Ireland. My Department is also taking account of the advice of the World Organisation for Animal Health, OIE, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, FAO, the World Health Organisation, WHO, and the EU Commission. I have personally participated in a number of discussions at the Agriculture Council and, earlier this month, discussed the issue with my French counterpart, following an outbreak in a domestic poultry flock in France.

In view of this increased risk and in accordance with my Department's avian flu contingency plan, I established an expert advisory group to provide me with ongoing advice in relation to avian control measures. This group is chaired by Professor Michael Monaghan of the faculty of veterinary medicine at UCD and includes members with veterinary, medical and ornithological expertise from within and outside my Department. The group has convened two meetings and has examined the situation in relation to the introduction of avian influenza into Ireland in the context of recent developments both in the EU and third countries. On both occasions, the group reviewed the current control measures put in place by my Department and has declared its confidence in their adequacy.

To date a range of EU and national measures has been put in place and others are under active consideration, including a possible requirement for the compulsory housing of domestic poultry, as has been done in a number of other European countries. The latter is provided for in EU, and now domestic, legislation in certain defined circumstances and I will have no hesitation in introducing such a requirement here as soon as I think it is appropriate. The expert group has concluded that the circumstances do not yet exist in which this would be warranted.

My Department also introduced and is maintaining a register of poultry flock owners and owners of other birds and it is now a statutory requirement that all poultry flock owners register with my Department. All those registered have been issued with biosecurity advice to limit the risk of introduction of avian influenza onto their holdings. The register will be of vital importance to my Department in identifying the precise locations of neighbouring flocks to any disease outbreak and will be of enormous assistance in ensuring that the necessary control procedures are fully in place.

In addition, my Department has extended the helpline facility which we have been operating since last autumn. The helpline will be a useful tool in early detection as people report dead birds. My Department placed an advice notice in all national papers last week giving advice to the public on what should usefully be reported to the helpline. I want to express my appreciation to those concerned members of the public who, conscious of the threat posed by avian flu, have been contacting the helpline in such large numbers.

At this stage, I am satisfied that the measures in place are appropriate to the current level of risk but the situation is clearly evolving and is being kept under review with a view to introducing such additional precautionary measures as are required. My Department is and has been continuing to review and modify its contingency arrangements in order to ensure the early detection and speedy eradication of avian influenza.