Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the benefits of brucellosis free status for farmers here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25952/09]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects that Ireland's application for brucellosis free status will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25951/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 65 together.

My Department applied to the European Commission on 31 March last for formal recognition of Officially Brucellosis Free status (OBF) for Ireland. The EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health is due to meet to-day and tomorrow and a draft Commission decision on this matter is expected to be presented. If adopted it will then be necessary for the Commission services to make the necessary arrangements to give the decision legal effect and for its publication in the Official Journal.

There are considerable benefits to being brucellosis free, not least in relation to public health and the alleviation of distress to farmers whose herds are affected, and the possibility of relaxed controls. I intend to decide on the action to take on this once the status has been achieved.