Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her Department has fully complied with the EU FVO ban on the use of New Zealand semen; if she has satisfied herself that there is no New Zealand semen in circulation in this country at present; the steps she is taking to eradicate the risk of the spread of IBR through semen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12205/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The European Commission, following shortcomings identified on an FVO mission to New Zealand, instructed Member States to remove specific bovine semen consignments imported from New Zealand after 9th March 2004 from EU approved semen collection and storage centres and also instructed that these consignments were not to be traded within the Community. My Department took measures to ensure that all remaining semen that was identified in this communication has been dealt with in accordance with the instruction issued by the Commission. Not all of the semen present in centres in Ireland originating in New Zealand has been affected by this instruction — some semen (e.g. semen imported prior to 9th March 2004) is available for trade. My Department is in ongoing communication with the relevant New Zealand authorities as to the health status of all of the detained semen. The information received to date indicates the risk of spread of IBR through the detained semen (semen imported after 9th March 2004) is negligible. This semen was collected prior to 31st December 2004 from bulls, which were vaccinated in accordance with the relevant EU legislation (Council Directive 88/407/EEC) and not from bulls, which were naturally infected with IBR. Since 1st January 2005 my Department has required that all bulls entering EU approved AI centres must test negative for IBR in accordance with EU legislation.