Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to introduce a new herd health initiative to deal with non-regulated diseases. [18150/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is actively working with relevant stakeholders to progress a herd health initiative to deal with non — regulated diseases and conditions in a comprehensive and integrated manner. The initiative has been proposed to enable Ireland achieve international best practice in the area of animal health and is intended to complement existing animal health programmes.

My officials have had discussions with the principal stakeholders, including farming organisations and representatives of industry, service providers and relevant state agencies and all have indicated their broad support for the initiative. Following on this, formal proposals were circulated to the stakeholders inviting them to indicate if they can support the initiative and its intended objectives and seeking commitments from them to funding. I am satisfied that there is a genuine commitment by all parties to work together on this initiative to improve animal health. A number of those contacted have already responded positively to the formal proposals circulated and we are awaiting definitive responses from the remaining stakeholders.