Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the checks that have been carried out by his Department to examine potential oyster diseases in Lough Swilly;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13067/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Fish health surveillance is carried out by the Marine Institute under Council Directive 2006/88EC.

Under that Directive, the entire coastline of Ireland has been declared free from Marteilia refringens while there have been recorded instances of Bonamia ostrea and Ostreid herpes virus (OsHV1-uvar).

Specifically in relation to Lough Swilly, over the period since 2007, the bay has been tested for the presence of all 3 pathogens. It remains free from Marteilia refringens but is infected with Bonamia ostrea and Ostreid herpes (OsHV1-uvar).