Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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505. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce a compensation package arising from the outbreak of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome or blue ear as it is more commonly known; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54284/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a that causes a in , called Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), also known as blue-ear pig disease and is a widespread disease affecting domestic pigs. The symptoms include reproductive failure, pneumonia and increased susceptibility to secondary bacterial infection. It is caused by a virus classified as a member of the genus Arterivirus. PRRS was first recognised in the United States in 1987, and the causative virus was identified in the Netherlands in 1991.

The position as regards PPRS is that this is disease syndrome would appear to be endemic in Ireland, as it is in virtually all pig producing countries in the world. While it is acknowledged that PRRS has a negative economic impact on affected farms, there are no PRRS related health guarantees applicable in respect of intra-community trade in pigs and thus no additional health guarantees can be sought or imposed in relation to intra-community trade. Given these circumstances, my Department does not have any plans to introduce a national eradication programme or a compensation regime at this time.