Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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153. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department intends to introduce measures to curb the spread of foot and mouth into Ireland, given that we are approaching the busy summer travel season, when many people will travel to and from countries impacted by the disease. [24639/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Germany in January and in Hungary and Slovakia more recently have highlighted the ongoing threat this disease poses to Irish livestock.

Within my Department, preparations are ongoing to heighten our preparedness for all eventualities and to ensure a prompt and effective response to any suspect FMD case.

My Department also carries out an ongoing awareness campaign to highlight the risk of the disease. This includes targeted messaging for international travellers in the ports and airports, and engagement with hauliers and livestock owners to highlight the importance of robust biosecurity measures to mitigate the risk of an outbreak of the disease in this country.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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154. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to rollout an awareness campaign on foot and mouth for those travelling to and from central Europe this summer, given the recent outbreak of the disease across the region. [24640/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department maintains an ongoing information campaign in relation to foot and mouth disease (FMD). This includes posters and pull up displays at ports, airports and ferry terminals advising travellers of the risk of inadvertently carrying FMD back to Ireland. My Department also has continuous engagement with livestock owners, hauliers and other industry stakeholders, highlighting the importance of vigilance and strict biosecurity in keeping Ireland FMD free. Up to date information on FMD is available at www.gov.ie/fmd.