Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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205. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to reduce the level of antibiotic use in animals; his further plans to address anti-microbial resistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40694/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2017–20 (iNAP) outlines Ireland’s commitment to the development and implementation of a holistic, cross-sectoral ‘One Health’ approach to the problem of antimicrobial resistance. iNAP was developed jointly by the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine following consultation with key industry stakeholders. iNAP 2017-2020 will conclude this year however work is underway to develop the next iteration of iNAP (2021-2025) which will build on the progress already made. This plan will be developed in partnership between the Department of Health and my Department.

From my Department's perspective, this will see an increased focus on capturing usage data, seeking to influence human behavioural changes needed to reduce AMU and interrupting those usage patterns which are the main drivers of antibiotic usage (AMU) on farms in Ireland.

My Department is focused on developing a National Secure Veterinary Digital Prescription System to collect prescription level usage data. As well as meeting a strategic objective under iNAP, this project reflects the requirements of EU Regulations 2019/6. It is currently envisaged that the usage data will be gathered from prescribing vets, with the plan to allow for real time recording of all medicines being used in food producing animals.

The recently published HPRA report on sales of veterinary antibiotics in Ireland in 2019 (published last week) shows a noteworthy reduction in the overall sales of veterinary antibiotics, with reductions in several classes of antibiotics noted. Most importantly, sales of the highest priority critically important antibiotics were also reduced. This report is a tangible sign that the collaborative efforts of the farming and veterinary stakeholders who sit on the iNAP Animal Health Sector Committee are having the desired effect of reducing the level of antibiotics being used in our animals.

Ireland’s second National Action Plan on AMR, in common with the current plan, will, in addition to a range of issues in the human medicine field, have as a primary objective the improvement of animal health, thus reducing the need for antimicrobial use. In the second plan, there will be an increased focus on outcomes in order to better measure progress. The actions will also be extended to include the companion animal and equine sector as well as further work on awareness raising, farm biosecurity and animal health programmes. This second One Health national action plan will build on the strong platform created through collaborative actions already taken to sustainably address the issue of AMR.