Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on whether the recent outbreaks of equine infectious anaemia here will negatively affect Ireland's reputation in regard to animal health and welfare. [40558/06]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps her Department is taking to support owners of animals which were inadvertently infected with swamp fever; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40488/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 85 together.

Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) has a worldwide distribution and, until this year, Ireland and the UK had been previously free of this disease. The first cases of EIA were recorded in Ireland on the 15 June 2006. Some 27 cases of this disease have now been confirmed here in both the thoroughbred and sport horse sectors.

My Department has, since the first cases were confirmed, had as a priority the containment and eradication of the disease, given the considerable value and reputation of the Irish bloodstock industry. To that end, my Department has put in place a very comprehensive surveillance programme, the cost of which is partly borne by my Department. In August, I announced a package of measures to assist those owners whose horses are subjected to movement restrictions and, consequently, included in a surveillance programme over a period of at least ninety days. This package includes a financial contribution for each visit by a veterinarian to take blood samples from horses that are subject to movement restrictions and covers the cost to the Irish Equine Centre (IEC) of analysing the sample. The provision of this financial assistance recognises the burden imposed on owners whose horses are required to complete a programme of testing for EIA. Since then, I have significantly widened the surveillance programme by targeting particular populations of horses, identified on a risk-assessment basis as being part of a high-risk group, principally in the Meath/Kildare/North Dublin areas. The cost of this phase of the surveillance programme is also being met by my Department.

At this stage, almost 25,000 tests for EIA have been carried out at the IEC or at my Department's Central Veterinary Research Laboratory and, to date, just the 27 cases have been confirmed. It is intended that the surveillance programme will continue for some time and consideration is being given to widening it further during the 2007 breeding season as part of an intensified effort to ensure that all cases of the disease are identified and that the disease is eradicated as soon as possible. We are, of course, conscious of the potential reputation damage to the Irish bloodstock industry as a consequence of this disease outbreak, though there is no evidence to suggest that the industry has suffered in terms of trade. We are particularly conscious of the value of the Tripartite Agreement with the UK and France and we have been extremely diligent in ensuring that our partners are kept fully informed of all developments in Ireland. We have also fully briefed all other EU Member States through the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH). Furthermore, we have also ensured that the veterinary authorities in those countries to which any in-contact animals may have travelled have been advised immediately.

My Department has also supported those sales companies and other equine event organisers who have insisted on negative EIA test results before horses are admitted to sales or such other events. These are decisions taken voluntarily by those organisations, which will all assist in providing ongoing confidence in the Irish bloodstock industry and the health status of the Irish equine population.

My Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances in which the disease first came to be introduced into Ireland and will, in the event that sufficient evidence is produced as a result of the investigation, endeavour to pursue a prosecution in this regard. I must emphasise the absolute necessity of maintaining a prudent approach in relation to the controls currently in place and the need for horse owners/trainers, veterinary practitioners and all those associated with the equine industry to continue to maintain a vigilant approach in the interests of containing this outbreak and eradicating EIA from Ireland.