Walsh warns on gravity of foot-and-mouth situation

If foot-and-mouth disease spread to Ireland the consequences would be felt through the entire economy and not just the agricultural sector, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, has warned.

He stressed that it should be seen as "nothing less than a national issue which has the potential to adversely affect, either directly or indirectly, the wellbeing of everyone in this country, and our response must reflect the gravity of the situation".

The Minister was speaking in the Dail during a scheduled debate on the EU Commission's proposals on beef reform, and he was urged to "put the boot down" in Brussels next Monday on the beef proposals, particularly in relation to a ban on Tbone steaks, which was a "cosmetic" move.

The EU proposals would have a disproportionate impact on Ireland, which was five years ahead of other countries in dealing with BSE, according to Labour's agriculture spokesman, Mr Willie Penrose.

Referring to the foot-and-mouth outbreak, Mr Walsh said the Department of Agriculture was drawing up guidelines which would be issued as soon as possible to all concerned and would clarify precisely what was and was not permitted. A major public information campaign was being prepared to "ensure the widest possible understanding of the measures needed to deal with this issue effectively".

Fine Gael's agriculture spokesman, Mr Paul Connaughton, suggested that "we literally ringfence our airports, our seaports, the fishing and ferry ports. They will have to have huge surveillance on them right around the coast, no matter where it is".

He asked the Minister to bring Strand 2 of the Belfast Agreement into play. "If it ever meant anything, this is it," he said. "Now is the time for the North-South ministerial meetings on food safety to kick in."

Referring to media reports about a livestock truck which had travelled between Britain, the North and the Republic the Minister said investigations were continuing. He did not want this truck to be the primary focus of efforts to deal with the situation. However, "animals on a particular farm are being kept under surveillance, and the farm has been restricted".

The Minister said: "There is a clear understanding among all concerned with our agriculture and food-processing sectors of the threat which foot-and-mouth disease poses." Continuing, he emphasised: "The commitment and co-operation of the entire population will be necessary if we are to succeed in our efforts to prevent it spreading to Ireland."

Mr Walsh pointed out that when the Department of Agriculture was warned of the outbreak it immediately moved to put in place the first wave of protective measures.

This included an immediate ban on imports from Britain and Northern Ireland of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, meat, meat products, milk and milk products. The arrangements were put into effect on the Border with the assistance of the Garda. The EU Commission imposed a similar ban on UK exports.

Dr Mary Upton (Lab, Dublin South Central) asked if the Minister was recalling meat products from Irish retail outlets because the incubation period for the disease was two weeks. "So we're playing catch-up in a way. Products that are already infected potentially could be on the shelves," she said.