Airports may deploy sniffer dogs

THE deployment of sniffer dogs at ports to help prevent diseases being imported that could damage the agri industry is being considered by the Department of Agriculture and Food.

Donegal North East Fianna Fáil TD Cecilia Keaveney asked Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan in the Dáil if she planned to introduce Department of Agriculture dog teams at the ports, similar to the 25 teams of dogs available in Auckland to preserve the integrity of the New Zealand agriculture sector.

Ms Coughlan said her Department is examining the position with regard to extending controls it already operates to implement the European Union ban on the personal import of meat and meat products, milk and milk products and on live birds by travellers from outside of the EU.