Island status should be used to protect Irish herds from bluetongue
However, the advent of the single European market in the early 1990s allowed unrestricted importation of livestock and with them, previously unknown diseases.
Ireland is one of the few EU countries that has remained free of bluetongue, which is a very serious disease.
Riona Sayers suggests that we should use our island status to ensure that this remains the case. She says that in the current disease climate, importation of animals from other European countries should be avoided and actively discouraged.
She said it is likely that bluetongue, if imported, would become rapidly established here, because the midges which spread it are commonly found here.
We have a unique opportunity to avoid the bluetongue risk, and we must take advantage of that opportunity.
