Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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203. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address matters concerning the mysterious deaths of a large number of the farm animals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36593/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department, along with other public sector bodies was involved in an extensive investigation of animal health and environmental concerns on the farm of the person for whom the Deputy has provided details.

An inter-agency group (IAG) was convened in June 2004 and comprised my Department’s Laboratories, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Teagasc, the Health Services Executive (HSE) and Kilkenny County Council.

Extensive investigations were conducted by state bodies on this farm and the reports of all investigations were provided to the herd owner and his advisers.

I am advised that in no instance was a request for a postmortem examination of animals from this farm refused/not undertaken by the Department’s laboratory service

Due to concerns raised by the herd owner, in 2024, my predecessor, and then Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue committed to the establishment of an independent review of the Department of Agriculture investigations referred to above. The scope of the review does not extend to investigations undertaken by any other body or agency.

Dr Sean Brady was appointed as independent chairperson of this review and is currently engaging directly with the herdowner to progress this review, based on terms of reference agreed with the herdowner.