DAIL DEBATES


Private Notice Questions- Foot & Mouth Disease Outbreak
Sitting Time
Sitting Date
17:20
28 February 2001

Mr. Kelleher: Have we banned the cross-border movement of cattle feeds like hay, silage and cereal products? There is a great deal of
agricultural traffic at this time of year involved in sowing grain and in ploughing. Can this be strictly monitored? I am concerned that products would be moved across the border without proper checks.

Mr. Crawford: There is not much sowing in border areas at the moment.

Mr. Kelleher: If this problem continues for some time, would it be
appropriate to have an information leaflet distributed to every
household? The last outbreak was in 1941, so not many people would
remember it. It is important to inform the public why restrictions are being put in place, and why large gatherings of people are being
discouraged. Is there a penalty for those who knowingly or wittingly
import animals on to their lands from across the border? Could grants, headage payments or REPS payments be revoked if people are found guilty of such an offence?