This article is from page 38 of the 2008-05-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 38 JPG
CLARE farm leader Martin McMa- hon, has welcomed the ban imposed by the Minister for Agriculture on the import of animals from blue- tongue infected regions.
In one of her last acts as Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan in- troduced the ban following on from a unilateral move by Ireland some months ago.
McMahon, who is Chairman of ICMSA’s Beef and Cattle Commit- tee, argues that, to some extent, the Irish Department of Agriculture has forced the EU Commission to act in a sensible way to stop the spread of bluetongue.
He has however, expressed concern about any possibility of bluetongue being imported into the country.
“Given the serious potential losses from bluetongue, ICMSA’s view is that the import of animals which are still legally allowed should be reduced to the absolute minimum,” he said.
“Tt is essential that every precaution is taken against the spread of blue- tongue to Ireland and we feel that voluntary restrictions combined with the legal ban from bluetongue infect- ed regions may be required.
“Our second concern is around the area of vaccination.
“Tt is crucial that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has
adequate stocks of vaccine should an outbreak occur.
“In this connection, ICMSA notes that Ireland still has not got a sup- ply of vaccine unlike other countries whose vaccination programmes are well under way. We need to do two things immediately: firstly, we need to secure a supply of the vaccination and, secondly, we need to consider voluntary vaccination by individual farmers who wish to protect their herds against any possibility of an outbreak.
“ICMSA is going on the record to express our concern about the degree of complacency that seems to be set- ting-in around the possibility of a bluetongue outbreak which would
put a beef industry already under threat under the most severe strain imaginable.”
Speaking after the ban Minister Coughlan said that notwithstanding the introduction of these new meas- ures, she would continue to insist that the EU must keep the bluetongue control measures under ongoing re- view and that if necessary these must be modified should evidence emerge that would demand such action.
“My priority continues to be to keep bluetongue out of this country and I will not hesitate to introduce additional safeguard measures, as I did in February, if I consider that Such action 1s warranted,” said the Minister.