James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the plans in place to counteract the threat to Ireland's bio-security following the confirmation of the incidence of bird flu in Norfolk which comes shortly after the outbreaks of foot and mouth and Bluetongue in the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29888/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In respect of the threats posed by the recent confirmation of avian 'flu in England and the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and bluetongue, my Department has in place a series of robust contingency arrangements and I have available to me, through my Department's National Disease Control Centre (NDCC), a wide range of expert veterinary, scientific, administrative and legal advice.

My Department places a particular emphasis on the importance of strict biosecurity, particularly at farm-level and has consistently impressed upon farmers the need for such measures and continues to offer advice in this regard. Such advice has been published and sent to farmers and poultry flockowners in leaflet and booklet form as well as having been published in the national newspapers and posted to the Department's main website as well as our dedicated avian 'flu, FMD and bluetongue websites.

There are very different risks associated with the various diseases and different control and mitigating measures are appropriate to deal with those risks. Because of the most likely means of introduction, there are limitations to the measures that can be taken to maintain the country's current disease-free status, for example in relation to the threat posed by migrating wild birds in regard to avian 'flu or infected midges in regard to bluetongue.

What we have consistently endeavoured to do is to assess the risk of any disease introduction and to implement control measures that are reasonable and proportionate to the risk analysis. To that end, the Management Committee of my Department's NDCC is responsible for the day-to-day response to the various disease threats and has, at its disposal, access to a wide range of advice and expertise both from within and outside the Department.

In relation to avian 'flu and these other diseases, my Department keeps all developments in relation to the spread of the respective diseases under review and, where appropriate, the NDCC Management Committee recommends the introduction of additional controls. In addition, my Department has developed comprehensive Contingency Plans in respect of each of the diseases.

Based on the advice available, from various sources, the immediate risk of an outbreak of either avian 'flu, foot-and-mouth disease or bluetongue is regarded as relatively low at this time. In relation to avian 'flu, we are close to the end of the current migration season and there is very little migration between Ireland and Germany, France and the Czech Republic, with which the strain of the virus found in England has been associated. The most recent case of FMD in England was confirmed on 30th September.

In relation to bluetongue, the risk is principally associated with the introduction of an infected animal or through infected midges. While animals may now be imported from bluetongue-affected area, the conditions under which they may do so are very restrictive and are intended to significantly reduce the risk of an infected animal being imported. Meanwhile the Department's vector surveillance programme shows that the level of vector activity has declined very significantly in the past few weeks. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the respective disease situations will continue to be monitored closely and any revisions to our contingency arrangements made, where appropriate.

Central also to our contingency arrangements has been the excellent level of co-operation between my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland. Both Departments have a shared commitment to the maintenance of an all-island approach to the disease threats posed and have collaborated very closely in the adoption of identical control measures.

Based on our expert assessment of the current level of risk of a disease outbreak, I am satisfied that my Department currently has in place the necessary contingency arrangements, including sufficient legislative powers. Should any of the disease threat assessments change and it be considered that additional measures are appropriate, I won't hesitate to introduce such measures.