Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 674: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm proposals by Animal Health Ireland to facilitate the disposal of PI's in an effort to reduce the incidents of BVD; if it proposed to dispose of these animals through normal commercial avenues without disclosure of their condition; his views that this is an appropriate measure from a publicly funded body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40798/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In 2011, Animal Health Ireland (AHI) with strong industry support formed a BVD implementation group (BVD IG) to deliver a programme aimed at eradicating Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD). A voluntary phase of the eradication programme has commenced this month - January 2012 and it is anticipated that this will become compulsory in 2013. The first 3 years of the programme will focus on testing of calves for the BVD virus using tissue samples collected by ear punch.

One of the guidelines for herds participating in the voluntary phase of the programme is that animals identified as being persistently infected (PI) with the BVD virus should not be sold but should be removed through the knackery system. While there is no specific legislation in place during the voluntary phase of the programme to prohibit the sale of known PI animals, AHI is currently in discussions with my Department regarding legislation for the compulsory phase of the programme in 2013 that will specifically address this issue. In the absence of specific legislation, AHI through its BVD IG have emphasised to herd owners their potential liability under current legislation where such animals are traded. In addition, a number of measures specific to the programme have been developed to discourage the sale of PI animals. Firstly, for herds participating in the programme test results will be available to the marts via the Animal Health Computer System (AHCS). Secondly, purchasers of animals that have been tested within the programme will also be able to view their previous test histories on the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) database. Finally, compliance with the programme guidelines, particularly in relation to the non-sale of PI animals and the speedy disposal of infected animals, will be a requirement to be eligible for the recent financial incentives announced by my Department, namely the one off €100 welfare payment for any suckler cow whose offspring is removed under the Programme and the €15 contribution per calf towards the knackery cost of disposal of PI calves.