Fine Gael calls for foot and mouth risk re-assessment

THE likelihood that a second foot and mouth outbreak in Britain originated from the same source as last month’s cases must lead to a full risk re-assessment, Fine Gael said yesterday.

Denis Naughten, TD, the party’s agriculture and food spokesman, said it will be a matter of some slight relief if, as seems likely, the new case has been caused by the same strain as the August outbreak.

Coming only days after the all-clear was announced, it raises questions about the adequacy of the British approach. Mr Naughten said Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan deserves credit for her response to the outbreaks to date, but he urged her to take an especially strong interest in the measures currently being taken in Britain.

Mr Naughten reiterated his call for a national biosecurity committee to continually monitor all available information and assess the risk of disease coming into this country and spreading to the animal or human population.

Ms Coughlan meanwhile discussed the latest outbreak with senior officials from her department in Dublin yesterday.

She said her officials were doing everything they could to ensure that the disease did not spread to Ireland.

An emergency meeting of the ICSA national executive in Portlaoise called for tougher measures regarding British exports.

Following criticism at the meeting of what was described as the undue haste shown by the EU in letting British livestock and livestock product exports resume so quickly after last month’s outbreak, ICSA president Malcolm Thompson said it is now clear that allowing exports from Britain was too rushed.

IFA president Pádraig Walshe said the association and its members are committed to preventing the disease reaching Ireland.

ICMSA president Jackie Cahill said the re-emergence of foot and mouth in Britain raises questions over British biosecurity and veterinary controls.

The ICMSA fully supports Ms Coughlan in the action she is now taking, including the reactivation of the all-Ireland approach. “I urge all farmers and every one else concerned to comply fully with these new arrangements,” said Mr Cahill.

Macra na Feirme president Catherine Buckley said co-operation is vital among government departments, Department of Agriculture officials, port and airport authorities, gardaí and all other relevant parties to prevent the disease affecting Ireland.