Disease had 'positive' impact on farming

THE overall impact on the agriculture sector of last year's foot-and-mouth disease was actually positive, according to the latest analysis of the economic cost involved.

Trinity College academics Prof Alan Matthews and Ronnie O'Toole, writing in the current edition of the Irish Banking Review, noted that significant costs, however, were borne by the tourism and distribution sectors, as well as by taxpayers.

They called for a full inquiry, involving all stakeholders, to address all of the issues arising from the outbreak.