Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will provide this Deputy with copies of presentations made (details supplied); and the person who represented Ireland at those meetings. [12221/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The agenda items to which the Deputy refers relate to discussions at the standing committee on the food chain and animal health, SCOFCAH, on the updated information on the foot and mouth disease situation, particularly in South America, provided by the representative of DG SANCO.

As is normal practice at meetings of this nature, Ireland was represented at both meetings by officials from the veterinary and animal health divisions of my Department. While Irish representatives normally contribute fully to all discussions at the SCOFCAH meetings, such contributions are not always made by way of formal presentation.

At the meetings referred to, formal presentations were not made by my officials but they did participate fully in the discussions and took the opportunity to again impress on the EU Commission our concern in respect of the situation regarding foot and mouth disease and the need for the EU to take appropriate safeguard measures. This is an opportunity we take on any occasion on which it is presented.