Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide a progress report on the establishment of a bio-security unit to provide security against threats from animal diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25583/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's responsibilities extend to animal and plant health and the diseases of these sectors. In this regard it works closely with the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive in relation to the public health aspects of and the potential implications for human health posed by these diseases, as for example in relation to avian 'flu which crosses both disciplines.

I am acutely conscious of the threats of various animal disease outbreaks and my Department continually reassesses such threats and the dangers posed to Ireland. On the basis of such risk assessments, I and my officials on an ongoing basis review the adequacy of our control measures aimed at mitigating the risk of the introduction of such diseases to this country. As part of this review process, my Department has offered and continues to offer biosecurity advice to farmers in relation to diseases such as foot-and-mouth, avian 'flu and bluetongue. This advice is updated as appropriate and made available in leaflet form, through the national newspapers or on my Department's website.

My Department within its own internal competency and facilities operates a wide range of surveillance, monitoring, controls, systems and processes which regulate, monitor and manage the risks posed by diseases and pests. These competencies and skills encompass professional, veterinary, scientific, bacteriological, microbiological, virological, epidemiological, administrative and legal expertise, all of which contribute, as appropriate, to the process. My Department's state of the art veterinary and agriculture laboratories at Backweston also continue to develop as centres of excellence increasing their range of diagnostic services to underpin any challenges posed to animal, plant health or food safety. All of these professions and disciplines are constantly upskilling and re-training.

In addition to its range of internal resources, my Department can rely on extensive external expertise, and assistance from State agencies, as well as organisations such as Birdwatch Ireland and academic expertise, such as for example, that provided by the Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis in UCD (CVERA) and the Department of Zoology at NUI, Galway in dealing with diseases or threats of diseases.

I am satisfied that my Department has available to it all the relevant expertise to ensure that the necessary biosecurity controls and precautions are exercised and taken both at points of import and at the farm gate. Nonetheless, I am anxious to bring a greater focus to and place a greater emphasis on the need for constant vigilance in the area of biosecurity and, for that reason, I have decided to establish, as a division within my Department, "Biosecurity Ireland" with a remit to ensure the exclusion, eradication or effective management of risks posed by diseases and pests to the economy, the environment as well as to human and animal health.