Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide and update on the progress, if any made on an all-Ireland animal health regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28716/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The main objectives of the North-South Ministerial Council are to foster co-operation and to devise a common, unified animal health strategy for the island as a whole. The ultimate objectives are to establish equivalent internal arrangements with a view to achieving free movement of animals and animal products within the island. There is ongoing co-operation through the dedicated working groups established under the North/South arrangements of which the hosting of the international vaccination expert's scientific symposium in Belfast in May is one recent example. The ultimate goal of freer animal movement on the island will be progressed when the new EU Animal Health law which is expected to be presented to Council and Parliament by the end of 2012, is adopted.

I also very much welcome the Northern Ireland proposal to establish a body with a similar remit to that of Animal Health Ireland. There is clearly an all Ireland recognition of the potential to improve the competitiveness of the farming sector through tackling production diseases. I am encouraged by the approach being adopted by the Northern Ireland body to BVD eradication, which creates the basis for a coordinated programme to eradicate BVD from the island of Ireland.