Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 365: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the discussions that have taken place between the Government and the European Union on the threat of foot and mouth disease here. [21549/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The first case in the recent Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak was confirmed on 3rd August and, in response, I introduced an immediate ban on the importation from Britain of susceptible animals and products, including fresh meat, raw milk and other products. Within a couple of days the European Commission adopted a Commission Decision which banned the export from Britain of those animals and products which had been included in my earlier ban.

That original Commission Decision has since been discussed and revised on a number of occasions at meetings of the European Commission's Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH), whose meetings are always attended by officials from my Department. In addition, officials from my Department are in regular contact with Commission colleagues in relation to various aspects associated with animal disease outbreaks, including the recent FMD outbreak.

Furthermore, the FMD outbreak was raised by the UK delegation and reviewed at last week's meeting of the Agriculture Council, which I attended. The Deputy can be assured that my officials and I are fully engaged with the European Commission and the Council of Agriculture Ministers in relation to any EU initiatives relating to the FMD outbreak in Britain.