Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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946. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department’s policies, plans and any ongoing actions, including advice, guidance and regulations to all organisations with in his remit, that it undertakes with regard to the risks to human health posed by the dispersal of antimicrobial resistant pathogens in the environment on land and water, including the risks of transmission of such pathogens from and between wildlife that is, animals and birds during their interfaces and contacts with farmed livestock and poultry especially free range stocks, with farmed fish and with the feed and water supplies of farmed livestock, poultry and fish. [34532/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Antimicrobial resistance is a serious global public health threat and addressing the challenge is a high priority for government.

My Department, together with the Department of Health and with the support of the Environmental Protection Agency, have developed a comprehensive cross-sectoral approach to antimicrobial resistance. Ireland's first National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (iNAP) was launched in 2017, and building on this, I launched iNAP2  together with Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, T.D. last November. 

iNAP2 comprises over 150 actions across human and animal health and environmental sectors grouped under five strategic objectives aimed at:

- improving awareness and knowledge of antimicrobial resistance

- enhancing surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use

- reducing the spread of infection and disease

- optimising the use of antibiotics in human and animal health

- promoting research and sustainable investment in new medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines and other interventions.

A cross-sectoral national approach to this challenge is essential. Ireland's Chief Veterinary Officer from my Department and the Department of Health's Chief Medical Officer established the National Interdepartmental Antimicrobial Resistance Consultative Committee in 2014. Committee members include representatives of both departments, HSE agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Health Products Regulatory Authority, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and other key stakeholder groupings in the human and animal health sectors, ensuring a coordinated national approach. 

Further information on antimicrobial resistance and the iNAP2 publication are available at: gov.ie - Antimicrobial Resistance: A One Health Approach (www.gov.ie)