Irish MEPs have forced an emergency debate in the European Parliament on the crisis over foot-and-mouth disease. An informal alliance of Labour, Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Green members united to persuade the parliament to take the unusual step of changing the order of business so the latest developments could be discussed as a matter of urgency.
Labour's Mr Proinsias De Rossa said it was "extraordinary" the parliament, which represented the people of Europe, was not discussing the issue. The food industry in the Republic, which was worth 15 billion Euros, was under threat. "It is a matter of concern to people everywhere in Europe," Mr De Rossa said. He asked that the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Mr David Byrne, be requested to make a statement to the parliament - "to demonstrate that this is a credible institution".
Ms Avril Doyle (Fine Gael) said that, despite the protestations of the British Minister for Agriculture, the foot-and-mouth situation was now "out of control" in Britain and last Sunday had seen the largest number of outbreaks in a single day.
She added that, in order to ensure its own relevance, the parliament should find time for the European Commission to update members on the situation.
Fianna Fail's Mr Liam Hyland supported the call for an emergency debate. "I am not raising it to embarrass the British government," he said. He was concerned for British, Irish and European farmers. "It is extremely important that the most severe restrictions are put in place in Great Britain," he said.
The leader of the British Labour MEPs, Mr Simon Murphy, rejected Mrs Doyle's suggestion that foot-and-mouth was "out of control" in his country. The British government had accepted the seriousness of the situation at all times, he said.
The Green MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna, said foot-and-mouth could not be considered in isolation from the issue of live cattle exports. The European taxpayer was subsidising this "cruel and inhumane" practice.
The President of the European Parliament, Mrs Nicole Fontaine, put the issue to a vote and a large majority of members voted on a show of hands for the principle that an emergency debate should be held. The debate will probably be arranged for today or tomorrow.