I thank the Ceann Comhairle for slating the really important issue of the situation regarding bluetongue in Ireland and giving me the ability to be able to address the House on it today.

Bluetongue is a viral disease caused by bluetongue virus, which can cause severe clinical signs in ruminant species such as cattle, sheep, goats and camelids - alpacas and llamas. There are many different serotypes of bluetongue virus. The most common serotypes found in Europe are 1, 3, 4 and 8.

Since the first detection of bluetongue virus in Ireland on 22 January, infection has since been detected in five cattle herds in County Wexford. A further infection was detected last week in a bovine which had been in a number of counties during the possible infection period, and investigations are now ongoing into that case.

While this is an unwelcome development, it is not unexpected as this virus has been spreading across Europe and Great Britain and was found in Northern Ireland in December 2025.

First and foremost, I assure the House and public that there are no public health risks associated with bluetongue. Bluetongue does not affect human health or food safety, and meat and milk are safe to eat and drink. I acknowledge the stress that the presence of bluetongue must be causing farmers generally, especially in the south east.

Bluetongue is spread by infected biting midges, many of which are found throughout the island of Ireland. The high-risk period for bluetongue spread is when temperatures are warmer between April and November. Thankfully, given the temperatures at this time of year, the disease cannot currently be spread by midges. My Department is undertaking surveillance across the country to detect the presence of further incursions. While animal movement controls may be required if the circumstances indicate it, based on the information currently available, the veterinary epidemiological risk assessment is that animal movement controls are not necessary. As such, there are no immediate plans to establish restriction zones here.

Officials from my Department have undertaken regular engagement with farm organisations and stakeholders across the industry, as well as with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, since Ireland’s first case was confirmed. Ireland has now lost its disease-free status for bluetongue, which has ramifications for trade and predominantly for the movement of live animals and germinal products within the EU and to third countries. My officials are working to renegotiate veterinary health certificates to facilitate ongoing trade which has been impacted by the loss of freedom from bluetongue, including live animal exports. Much progress has been made in this area, but work is ongoing in respect of some markets.

The detection of bluetongue in Ireland has created challenges for intracommunity trade in cattle and sheep. I know this is of particular concern to farmers in relation to the movement of calves and movements for breeding and production to Northern Ireland. The conditions for the agreed animal health certificates under which cattle and sheep can move to other member states, including Northern Ireland, within the EU for breeding and production can no longer be met due to bluetongue. In addition, the conditions to meet certification requirements for movement to Great Britain cannot currently be met either. Some importing member states have chosen to apply derogations to these conditions, thereby allowing the inward movement of cattle and sheep from countries with BTV-3, such as Ireland, subject to certain additional requirements decided by those member states. As no such derogation is in place in respect of Northern Ireland, the movement of cattle and sheep for breeding and production from Ireland to Northern Ireland cannot take place. The decision on whether to apply a derogation and on the conditions which would apply if that were done is taken by the importing member state, not by Ireland. I welcome the resumption of exports of cattle hides and skins to China following a temporary pause in trade, which had been a cause of great concern to industry. I acknowledge the work of my officials both here and in the Department who work extensively on market access, but also the team of officials in our embassy in Beijing who have worked closely with officials over there on this important matter.

I announced last December that BTV-3 vaccination under licence would be permitted in Ireland from 2026. The high-risk period for infection will be during warmer months. Farmers, in consultation with their veterinary practitioners, should consider whether to use BTV-3 vaccines during the spring to protect their stock in advance of any midge-borne virus spread that is possible during the warmer months. In the broader European context, the Commission has recently recategorised bluetongue serotypes 1 to 24 in EU regulations under the EU Animal Health Law, thereby shifting it from a category C disease to a category D+E disease. This change is scheduled to take full effect on 15 July 2026 and will result in bluetongue being treated as a disease under surveillance, as opposed to a disease to be eradicated. This means that under EU legislation, no member state will be able to achieve official freedom from bluetongue. The implication for Ireland is the emphasis will be on movement controls and surveillance rather than disease eradication.

I acknowledge the continued co-operation of industry stakeholders with my Department and the work of my officials in the Department who have been very attentive in preparing for and dealing with the incursion of the bluetongue virus. It is important to say that a pretty remarkable job has been done in recent times to keep it off the island up to now, considering its prevalence and spread across Europe and the UK. We were ready. We step-changed our approach according to risk levels. We worked on that basis of high surveillance.

My colleagues in the House will recognise that how we responded to the outbreak and presence of this virus in January, when it was first detected here, was very different from how we would have responded in July. It is a dynamic virus. This is something we are responding to in real time. We are working in collaboration through our regional veterinary officers with our vets and with private veterinary practitioners in support of our farmers, who are very concerned about this. I am delighted to have the opportunity to hear Members’ contributions in the Dáil. I will come back to any points raised in my closing speech.

We are all somewhat at a loss as to how we got into this situation. We now have bluetongue both north and south of the Border. We have a major difficulty with animals moving up and down across the Border. That is a very difficult problem, particularly in my part of the world where an awful lot of the marts are experiencing a huge loss in trade because of it. Bluetongue is obviously a virus that is mainly a summer problem in respect of its spread because the virus does not live in the little midges that spread it when the temperature is below 12°C. Of course, in the winter months that is not an issue. However, the cases that have been found in County Wexford likely became infected by midges that came across at the end of last summer or early autumn. It is probable that they were infected then, but it was not picked up or noticed until the animals went to slaughter. That is another issue with this, which makes it very difficult for farmers. We encourage them to be vigilant and to try to take all the precautions possible but if animals, particularly bovines, are not showing any symptoms, it is very difficult for anyone to be vigilant. That is one of the key problems we have here.

I mentioned to the Minister before that we need to do more random testing to try to see if any other areas are affected. Maybe this would concentrate mainly on the east coast. As we know, the nature of farming in Ireland is different from many other countries. Animals, particularly cattle, move up and down across the country an awful lot. Animals come from marts in one place to another. There is a lot of movement. That can be a problem, particularly if the disease was already in the country last autumn and was undetected. Has it moved or has it spread? That is something that will only be ascertained if we can get adequate testing in place. We need to do that as quickly as possible.

The issue of cross-Border trade is a real problem. Several mart managers and people in my part of the world are concerned about this. I got a parliamentary question only last week in respect of it. I understand that the certificate obviously cannot comply with the conditions that are there at present unless a derogation is put in place. The Minister might explain where we are at with that. Are there any active negotiations or discussions with the Minister's counterparts north of the Border or in Britain to try to work out a solution for that? It would be vital for the trade to try to have some solution put in place as early as possible. Many farmers out there are at their wits' end. I have been contacted by farmers who have large numbers of animals in stock and ready to go. They had customers in the North for them but they cannot sell them now. They are in real difficulty in that respect.

As we know, disease control and the difficulties with it have a long history for farmers. I am not going to go into the TB scenario, but people are afraid that we may be looking at a similar situation down the road. The Minister mentioned in his speech that a change in the categorisation will result in a move from bluetongue being a disease for eradication to a disease for monitoring across the EU. What is that going to mean? Where will it put farmers in respect of disease-free status, etc.? The Minister mentioned how the Chinese market for hides has opened up again. Of course, no sooner had the Taoiseach announced that we had reopened trade with China than this happened and now it is closed again. That is one of the issues we have. We seem to be in a particular position with China and the Chinese market, which is massive. They seem to be so temperamental about any little thing at all that they shut everything down. There is a certain irony in that, but we will not get into that today.

The reality is that we need to have as many markets open to us as possible. There needs to be a clear road map in order that farmers can understand how we are going to get through this. If we have a spread of this disease in May, what is going to happen then? Will we have widespread vaccination in place? If that is going to be required, are the vaccines in stock? How is that going to be managed? What implications will that have for trade? We need some clarity around all those issues.

I fully respect that the Minister's Department is doing its best. I fully respect that it is doing everything it can to stay on top of it and to get information out there. Many of the farmers talking to me - I am sure they are talking to the Minister too - are saying they are at a bit of loss to know where we are going from here. What is the clear road map forward in respect of bluetongue?

It comes at a time when farmers are already distressed and annoyed about lots of things, including the issue in Bord Bia and many other things, so these things do not help. We need to try to get to a stage where we can have a clear sense that everybody in the system is working together and everybody in the system is playing their part. That is why it is vitally important that we get a clear roadmap as to where it is going. First, we need full and proper testing to happen, so we can identify if there are any more problems. Second, if there are problems, how will they be dealt with and how quickly are we going to be able to get to a stage when animal movement can happen again and we can have some clarity around all of that?

I welcome the statements and the fact we have a sense that we are on top of it. From the point of view of the time of year, it has been some comfort in that we can relax a little bit that it is not going to spread right now. When we come into the month of March, however, there could be a week or ten days of quite warm weather and we could be in a serious situation if we see this disease spreading. While many of the midges that may have brought it across originally are probably either hibernating or gone to their reward hopefully, there are others that may spread the disease if it is already latent in animals. There needs to be clarity around that because the other issue is that it can also be spread by bulls if bulls are going off to be sold. If that bull bulls a cow, the next thing is the cow has bluetongue. There are issues around testing and with animal movement.

We need to get that clear pathway as to exactly what is going to happen and what this is going to cost not just to the industry as a whole, in the context of markets, but to the individual farmer from the point of view of vaccinations. Will there be any assistance for farmers around that? That would be useful for farmers to know and understand. There are so many things out there that are causing difficulties and this is just another one that farmers are really concerned about. They see the possibility of anything else, particularly for the beef sector, having a negative knock-on impact on them as very dangerous as we move forward.

I understand there are certain questions we need to get answers to and I think the Minister appreciates that. We need clarity around this. Farmers need clarity around it also. Until now there has been particular anxiety around the issue of the cross-Border trade, North and South. If it is possible, this is the first thing on which we need to get clarity. What negotiations will be held? What actions are going to be taken? How are we going to get this opened up again in a safe way, which is the important part of it?

I welcome the time that has been set aside to discuss bluetongue. Our farming communities have been contending with challenge after challenge over the past few months, with the detection of bluetongue being one of the latest. We need to be frank. The full extent of bluetongue across Ireland is unknown. More than likely these animals were infected last summer. The first case was detected in County Down last November and the most recent was on a farm in County Wexford. This shows clearly that this is an all-island issue and it must be treated as such. The Department needs to take all the proactive steps possible. This is about protecting our agricultural sector and our international reputation.

There are a few questions around the tracking and the tracing of animals, for example, those that had left the Wexford farm. Some would have been sold off. We need to get answers on how that tracing and tracking is going because we need to know where those animals are. It is the same when it comes to the animals from the cases in the North. We need to know if those spread anywhere. As Deputy Kenny said, we need to know about breeding animals because we know bluetongue can be passed along this way.

With the help of the Minister and his Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael colleagues, Bord Bia has been dragged into controversy but we cannot allow any more harm to the sector from the lack of action. It will be during the summer months that the spread of this disease will be at its height. We need to see a national vaccination campaign rolled out. That cannot be a burden lumped onto farmers. The Government needs to rally behind them with supports and cover part of the price of the vaccinations. At €9 per head of cattle, it is a significant cost for most farmers. The Government cannot look at this as a cost, it must instead look at it as an investment in protecting our agricultural food sector.

Over the past few months, we have seen time and again where this Government has failed to put our farmers and the agricultural sector to the fore. We saw it in its passive opposition to Mercosur and we saw it as it rallied behind their man, Larry Murrin, despite the outcry from across Ireland.

Last night I attended a meeting of the Kilkenny Irish Farmers' Association, with around 100 members present. They are sick and tired of being taken for granted by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Farmers are woven into the fabric of the communities that make up rural Ireland and they want to see Irish farming thrive. They want to see a strong environment and a vibrant farming sector that they can pass on to their children, knowing it will provide a good life for them and not be a burden. As a mother raising a family on our farm in south Kilkenny, I want that too. We need to see a step-change from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in how they treat our farming communities.

I commend the farmers who have travelled from across the island to protest at Bord Bia around the clock, and the men and women who have stood their ground inside the building. Their message is clear and simple: enough is enough. I ask the Minister to not drag his feet on this issue like he has on so many others. I ask the Minister to roll out an information campaign on spotting signs and symptoms of bluetongue and on the biosecurity measures farmers should be taking to prevent the spread of the disease; to ensure there is an adequate supply of vaccines available; and to support our farmers as they face yet another financial burden.

Reassurances are very sensible. Bluetongue poses no risk to humans and no food safety issue but history tells farmers that reassurances are often short lived and quickly overtaken by layers of regulation, movement controls and trade consequences that far exceed the biological reality on the ground. Farmers will rightly ask whether Ireland is once again holding itself to a standard that goes well beyond what science demands and far beyond what others are required to meet. When announcements are made, we need trust. That trust will be responsible, with the measures evidence-based and fair and not be just another blunt instrument that keeps Irish farmers permanently on the back foot.

Ireland's livestock sector is facing one of the most serious health threats it has come across in decades. The arrival of bluetongue in Ireland during the winter season, of all times, is not simply another disease event, it is a direct consequence of climate change, shifting disease patterns and growing biosecurity pressures on farms. Bluetongue was once confined to southern Europe in warmer countries but is now moving steadily northwards carried by midges whose range and season are expanding due to warmer and wetter conditions. What we are witnessing is not bad luck. It is the new reality for farmers working on the ground in agriculture in a changing climate. For farmers, this is unimaginable. Bluetongue means animal illness, production losses, breeding impacts, movement restrictions and immediate market consequences. A single case can affect an entire region as movement restrictions are imposed. Export markets react overnight but farm incomes can be damaged for years. In fairness to the Minister, Deputy Heydon, I know he has been working hard to get the exports to China reopened for hides and skins but beef exports are still suspended. I know that the Minister is aware of how important it is for farmers to get this market reopened and to minimise trade disruption but once again it is the farmers who are left exposed.

The State and many groups involved in both the agri-sector and climate change rightly tell us that biosecurity is critical to protecting Ireland’s agrifood sector. Our cattle, sheep and other livestock underpin rural employment, family farms and Ireland’s international reputation as a first class food-producing nation.

Biosecurity does not happen in a vacuum. It happens on farms, in sheds, in marts, during calving and lambing season, and through daily decisions made by farmers who are under immense pressure. In recent years, the threat from exotic animal diseases has increased dramatically. Avian flu now returns every winter. Foot and mouth disease has once again re-emerged in parts of Europe. African swine fever continues to devastate pig sectors internationally. Now bluetongue has reached Ireland in winter, which should be unheard of. This is the context in which farmers are being asked to operate. The Department has acknowledged this risk and has taken steps to strengthen preparedness. I welcome the national farmed animal biosecurity strategy 2025 to 2030, which sets out ambitions around surveillance, prevention and partnership with farmers. All-island co-operation with Northern Ireland is rightly recognised as essential. However, ambition alone will not protect herds or livelihoods.

If bluetongue is to be managed, as it must be, farmers cannot be expected to carry the cost of management alone. Vaccination, where appropriate, is central to disease control, yet vaccines cost money. Housing, handling facilities, veterinary visits, movement planning and compliance all add expense and complexity. These are not optional measures; they are being demanded in the name of national biosecurity. That means the State must step up. We cannot have a situation where farmers are told that biosecurity is a public good but the financial risk is treated as a private problem. If movement restrictions are imposed, compensation must be automatic and timely. If vaccination is required or strongly advised, it must be affordable and supported. If markets close due to disease risk, farmers must not be left waiting months for clarity or assistance.

Climate change is amplifying these pressures. Longer midge seasons increase the risk of bluetongue transmission. Wetter conditions complicate housing and animal health. Heat stress and nutritional challenges reduce resilience in livestock. These are not failures of farm management; they are systemic climate impacts. However, when we talk about a just transition, farmers are too often missing from the picture. There is nothing just about asking farmers to adapt to climate-driven disease threats without income protection. There is nothing fair about expecting compliance with ever-higher biosecurity standards while leaving farm families exposed to financial shock when outbreaks occur. A just transition in agriculture must mean shared risk, shared responsibility and shared investment.

We also need to acknowledge the human toll. Disease threats like bluetongue bring anxiety, isolation and exhaustion. Farmers dealing with sick animals, uncertain markets and regulatory pressure are under enormous strain. To go one further, I call for mental health supports to be recognised as part of the resilience we are asking farmers to have, not as an afterthought. Many of our farmers are dealing with this pressure alone and it can be a very lonely and overwhelming environment.

Ireland’s livestock sector is willing to do its part. Farmers understand biosecurity. They understand animal health. They often understand climate risk better than anyone else, as they are working day in, day out in ever-changing weather. What they need now is certainty that if they invest in prevention, the State will back them; certainty that if disease strikes, they will not be left carrying the loss alone; and certainty that biosecurity strategies will be matched with real supports on the ground.

Bluetongue is a warning of what lies ahead for Irish agriculture in a warming world. How we respond now will determine whether farmers can continue to produce food, sustain rural communities and protect animal health into the future. If vaccination is a central point of our response to bluetongue, and the State accepts that, it must be properly supported. At present, farmers are being told that vaccination is essential for biosecurity, disease control and protecting Ireland’s livestock sector. In practice, the full cost of that protection is being pushed onto individual farmers and that is not sustainable. Vaccines come at a cost, but for many farms, particularly cattle and sheep enterprises, the real burden is the veterinary cost: call-out fees, time on the farm, labour requirements, handling facilities and repeat visits. These are not discretionary expenses; they are direct consequences of national disease-control policy.

If the State wants bluetongue vaccination to succeed, the State must help to pay for it. We cannot say biosecurity is a public good while treating veterinary delivery as a private luxury. Farmers need targeted vaccine support funding including State support for bluetongue vaccines; direct funding or reimbursement of veterinary costs associated with vaccination; clear, simple payment mechanisms that do not add another layer of bureaucracy; and priority supports for smaller farms, suckler herds and vulnerable sectors.

Veterinary practitioners are a critical part of Ireland’s biosecurity infrastructure. They are not just service providers; they are front-line disease prevention professionals. If we overload vets without supporting their role, we undermine the very system we depend on to contain outbreaks. The Department must recognise that properly funded veterinary involvement is not an optional extra but is essential to effective vaccine uptake, farmer confidence and disease control. Without funding support, uptake will be uneven. Without uptake, biosecurity fails. When biosecurity fails, farmers pay the price.

This is where the language of the “just” transition must be matched with action. There is nothing just about asking farmers to absorb vaccine and veterinary costs created by climate-driven disease risk. There is nothing fair about transferring the cost of national biosecurity onto farm families. If climate change is increasing disease threats like bluetongue - all the evidence shows it is - vaccination and veterinary supports must be treated as climate adaptation measures and funded accordingly. We must support the vaccine, support the vets and support the farmers who are being asked to deliver biosecurity on behalf of the entire country, especially when they are doing everything possible regarding further outbreaks. They need to know that if this arrives at their door, the State will step in and compensate. Anything less is not preparedness; it is cost-shifting.

I want to address the emergency of BTV-3 and outline its implications for farmers and the agrifood sector, as well as the obligations on the Government to respond effectively and responsibly. First, I acknowledge the farm family in County Wexford where the cases have been confirmed. I commend them on their immediate and ongoing co-operation with veterinary authorities, including compliance with movement restrictions and full engagement in tracing and surveillance. The responsible actions of this farm and neighbouring holdings are helping to protect the wider farming community and limit the spread.

Bluetongue is a serious notifiable animal disease affecting cattle, sheep and other ruminants. It does not pose a risk to human health or food safety, but it impacts on animal welfare, farm incomes and market confidence. The confirmation of cases in Ireland is a major cause of concern. For farmers the consequences include not only animal health issues but, potentially, significant losses. Movement restrictions also pose practical and financial challenges.

There are wider implications for the agrifood sector. Ireland's reputation for animal health standards is fundamental to accessing key export markets. Managing this outbreak decisively and in line with international best practice is essential to the long-term standing of our livestock industry. Marts and factories continue to operate normally and the confirmation of BTV-3 does not have implications for live animal exports, depending on the country of destination.

I note the Department is updating animal health certificates to reflect BTV-3 requirements. Within the EU, several member states currently have no additional requirements. However, some countries may impose additional measures, including vaccinations, insecticide treatment and PCR testing, to meet with trade rules.

I welcome the reopening of the Chinese market for hides and skins. I acknowledge the work of Department officials, who are liaising with Chinese counterparts to regain access for Irish beef. The Department's role is critical.

I acknowledge the work under way in the areas of surveillance, testing, movement controls and engagement with stakeholders. Clear communication and rapid response are essential. It is vital that farmers continue to receive accurate and practical information. The Government’s obligations are clear in this regard. First, disease control measures must be science-led, proportionate and effective. Second, where farmers incur losses or face restrictions in the public interest, the State must be prepared to provide financial support. Certainty around compensation is absolutely essential. Third, the Government must continue to engage at European level on vaccination strategies, trade and disease management.

We must recognise the human impact of this outbreak. Disease outbreaks place a significant strain on farm families. The Government’s response must be practical, compassionate and based on partnership with farmers, their representatives and the veterinary profession. By acting decisively, communicating clearly and standing firmly behind farmers through appropriate supports, the Government can ensure that this outbreak is managed effectively and that confidence in our livestock sector is maintained.

I take this opportunity to thank the Minister for the great work he has done on bluetongue so far. I give him all the encouragement I can in seeking to reopen the Chinese market for beef.

The recent discovery of bluetongue cases across the island has been a major setback for the farming sector. While the number of confirmed cases to date has remained low, the consequences of this outbreak for the wider sector are significant. One of these consequences is the recent introduction of bans on the live export of animals between the North and South of this island, except in cases where the animal is intended for direct slaughter. This ban is having a huge effect on livestock farmers who depend on all-island trade, especially those who export animals for breeding or finishing purposes. Last year, the North represented one of the top five destinations for live exports from the Twenty-six Counties. In advance of this year’s export season, progress needs to be made in lifting this export ban as the outbreak is now on both sides of our island. Clearly, there is a need for an all-island approach to this outbreak, in terms of both export procedures and vaccination. I call on the Minister to engage, on both a European and an all-island basis, to deliver this.

This outbreak of bluetongue is not the only threat the farming sector faces. Issues such as the reforms to CAP, the Government’s failure to block the Mercosur trade deal and generational renewal are fundamental threats Irish farmers are facing. The European Commission’s recent proposals on the future of CAP represent a radical shift in how CAP is to be funded, governed and delivered. Under this new model, CAP would sit alongside a wide range of other EU policy areas, including cohesion, migration, climate and fisheries. The reality is that this reform would be a watering-down of CAP. This watering-down is also seen in the proposed cuts the Commission intends for the CAP budget. For Ireland, the indicative CAP allocation would mean a reduction of over €2.5 billion, leading to cuts to vital payments. We also saw the Commission’s proposal to end direct payments to farmers in receipt of pensions who have spent decades farming. All of this comes at a time when farmers are facing higher input costs, increased volatility, rising obligations and increased competition from low-standard imports, such as those from the Mercosur countries. This is a bad deal for Irish farmers and the Minister needs to fight tooth and nail against these proposals.

I was outside the office of Bord Bia today standing with Galway farmers who are continuing their protest against Larry Murrin’s position as chair of Bord Bia. This saga has gone on for far too long.

It is clear that farmers do not have confidence in the chair. The Minister finally needs to act in that regard.

I addressed it last week and also this week.

The outbreak of bluetongue in Wexford is a tragic occurrence. I express my sympathy to the farmers and families impacted by it. Since the first herd tested positive for bluetongue, it has been identified in an additional three herds in Wexford, according to the most recent reports. It must be very worrying for those farmers whose herds have tested positive for this disease.

Although bluetongue does not pose any risk to food safety and infected meats can still be consumed, it has a big knock-on effect on imports. The distinction between food safety and trade safety is an important one. Our domestic food supply remains safe but the international marketplace does not operate on the basis of food safety alone. Many of our export destinations, those outside the EU in particular, will only accept live animals or certain animal products from countries that hold a disease-free certification. Once that status is interrupted, even temporarily, markets react instantly. Some countries shut their doors automatically the moment a disease notification is issued. Obviously, that has huge consequences for farmers on the ground. Export-dependent farmers suddenly face delays, uncertainty and, in some cases, complete market closures. Orders that were being arranged are put on pause and animals that were due to travel cannot do so. This, in turn, leads to increased housing and feed costs, and all the while, revenue is on hold. I cannot imagine the anxiety this must cause farmers. Farmers plan their year and income around sales windows, mart days, shipping periods and production cycles that run with precision. Therefore, when an event like this pauses live exports, everything downstream becomes unstable. This causes daily worries in farm households impacted by the disease.

While this is the first case of a bluetongue infection in a home-bred Irish animal, it is likely not the last, unfortunately. We are facing a well-documented climate and ecological change. Scientists have told us for years that Ireland’s risk profile for vector-borne diseases is changing. Bluetongue did not arrive here because a farmer did something wrong or through lax standards or poor biosecurity. Rather, it arrived because the climate systems around us are shifting. Weather patterns have changed and midges capable of carrying the virus can survive in conditions that were once inhospitable to them. Today, therefore, is not just about responding to the outbreak in Wexford. It is about acknowledging what this outbreak represents, a warning signal about our preparedness for a changing environment.

Climate change is reshaping disease risks, farm work and viability and rural resilience. The flooding of recent months devastated farmland across the country. Fields were submerged for weeks, and many still are. Silage stores were destroyed, walkways collapsed and livestock had to be rehoused unexpectedly. Slurry tanks were filled far earlier than intended and crops, particularly cereal and roots, suffered losses that will take years to fully quantify. When that happens, not just the current season is affected. Knock-on effects hit the following year’s planting, the nutrient balance of the soil, fodder reserves and overall farm planning. Let us not forget that this is also on the back of storms Darragh and Éowyn, the impacts of which many farmers are still feeling.

Bluetongue is a different kind of climate-linked crisis, but it belongs in the same category. Climate change does not manifest only in storms, rainfall and droughts; it also manifests in the migration and survival of disease vectors, midges, ticks and, increasingly, mosquitos. For years, Ireland’s naturally cool climate acted as a barrier to diseases like bluetongue because the virus could not replicate inside midges below certain temperatures, but our winters are getting milder and our summers are stretching longer. Our springs and autumns are becoming warmer and wetter. Those are exactly the conditions these insects need to thrive. In short, vector-borne diseases that were once improbable in Ireland are now entirely plausible. Bluetongue is here and others may follow.

We need to shift towards a strategy of anticipation and prevention. One of the ways we can do that is through increased vector sampling. What happened in Wexford was detected through routine surveillance but the scale of the surveillance required in a climate-altered Ireland will be far greater. We need expanded vector sampling nationwide, not concentrated in traditional high-risk regions. Bluetongue cannot be treated as a once-off anomaly; it must be taken as a signal and warning. Ireland needs a national plan to address diseases transmitted by midges, ticks and mosquitos. A national vector-borne disease strategy should be published, costed and evaluated annually.

On top of all of that, we need to prioritise climate-resilient farming. If we do not do that, we may as well admit we are giving up. We cannot continue to operate on a system where a single flooding event wipes out winter fodder for an entire region. We need to plan ahead. Our agriculture sector needs to be climate resilient if it wants to stand any chance of thriving and, indeed, surviving in this new Ireland.

For years, we spoke about climate change as something that was coming. It is no longer coming; it is here. It is here in the floods in Cork, Wexford and the Shannon Basin. It is here in the wetter autumns and warmer winters. It is here in the fodder shortages, the failed second cuts, the drowning of crops and the destruction of farmyards. It is now here with the arrival of bluetongue in a home-bred Irish animal.

Climate change is not only an environmental issue. It is an agricultural issue, a food security issue, a rural economy issue and, indeed, a public health issue. Irish agriculture cannot be climate-proofed with debates and press releases. It must be climate-proofed with investment, foresight and policy reform. Bluetongue will not be the last climate-linked crisis to reach our shores, but it can be the moment when the Government chooses to respond not only with containment but with forward thinking. If proper supports are put in place and plans are made for what is coming, the agriculture sector can be climate-proofed. This outbreak is a warning but it also brings opportunity. I urge the Government to treat it with the full seriousness and urgency it deserves. Otherwise, our farmers will continue to pay the price.

I join other Members of this House in expressing empathy for the farmers in the south east who in recent weeks have been unfortunate enough to have had animals in their herds test positive for a form of bluetongue.

In Carlow and Kilkenny, and indeed throughout Ireland, farming is not just a job. It is a vocation and a way of life. When disaster strikes, whether through disease or adverse weather conditions, it hits not only the farmer but also his or her family, and is felt deeply throughout the community.

Coming from a farming background, I know how it feels to be at the mercy of the elements and the cruel manner in which everything can change in an instant. Many of us in this Chamber can remember the early months of 2001 when an outbreak of foot and mouth disease ground Irish agriculture to a halt virtually overnight. Any farmers who have had a reactor for TB or have faced into their lands being devastated by flooding know the dread, uncertainty and helplessness that can upend their lives without warning.

While bluetongue is not a disease that poses a risk to humans and, thankfully, it does not affect the quality of our food, this outbreak is of serious concern to farmers and the agri industry in Ireland. Symptoms of bluetongue can be particularly distressing for the infected animals. Fever, drooling, facial swelling, lameness and ulcers in the mouth are all known symptoms of the disease that farmers must be on the lookout for in the coming months. Devastatingly, among sheep, bluetongue has a mortality rate of up to 70%.

Regarding the trade of meat and dairy products, there are no implications for exports to the UK or to most of our international markets. However, movements of livestock to certain EU member states and third countries will be affected now that Ireland has lost its status as free of bovine TB. I know that the Minister for agriculture and his team are working hard to negotiate revisions to many trade certificates for third countries. Indeed, the sudden appearance of bluetongue is a reminder of the critical importance for global supply chains that contingency plans be made and put in place.

The Department is engaged in extensive surveillance in Wexford and across the south east to work against and prevent the further spread of the disease. These confirmed cases have led to the suspension of both breeding and store cattle being moved from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland. Exports to Northern Ireland are only permitted if direct for slaughter. As we have all learned over recent years, disease does not respect international borders.

In my view, the best way of managing outbreaks of bluetongue in both jurisdictions is through a collaborative, all-of-Ireland approach. It is only through close co-operation with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in the North that we can restore the important trade in feeding and breeding animals.

Farming organisations South and North should be applauded because they have met to highlight the need for close collaboration in this regard. I know that this Government will not be found wanting. This is exemplified by the decision taken last December by the Minister, Deputy Heydon, to allow for BTV-3 vaccination in Ireland this year. Vaccination remains the only evidence-based control option now available to farmers at risk of exposure. The Minister has led from the front on this issue and I encourage all farmers to consult their veterinary practitioners to see if vaccination is suitable for their livestock.

Given that bluetongue is, as we know, spread by midges that cannot survive in Irish winter temperatures, there are grounds for optimism at present. However, we must remain cautious. Midges typically begin to reappear in April and can remain active until November, meaning that as we start to come into summer, the likelihood of infection spreading will rise. Wind speed and direction can also affect how far midges can travel and this could potentially facilitate the spread of the disease. We must remain vigilant. That is why it is so vital that advice from the Department of agriculture be heeded. In cases of suspected bluetongue, farmers should isolate the suspect animal indoors immediately and report the case to the Department. Farmers should also contact their local regional veterinary office. Outside office hours, they should ring the national disease emergency hotline.

The detection of bluetongue in Ireland comes as a disappointment, but considering the spread of the disease in Europe, it is not a surprise. With up to 1 million calves due to be born over the coming weeks, farmers across the country are understandably worried. However, the detection of the disease and the robust response from the Government are testament to the resilience of Irish agriculture. Irish farmers work incredibly hard to ensure that their produce is world renowned for the highest possible quality standards. It is that same resilience and appetite for hard work that will catch, contain and control bluetongue over the coming months.

Biosecurity incidents have the potential to devastate farm enterprises. Our farmers do their utmost, investing their own time and labour and complying with biosecurity restriction in order to best avoid outbreaks of TB, avian influenza or any other similar threats. Has the Minister examined if bluetongue can spread in deer? It is crucial to the State that he do so because wider outbreaks have the potential to devastate entire sectors. It is equally crucial that the State live up to its obligations and have in place a workable framework for farmers to allow them to succeed.

In all instances, we should be tackling biosecurity on an all-island basis. To do otherwise would go against common sense, and that is clearly the case for bluetongue. There are a number of things we need to see from the Government. We need the Government to raise the issue at EU level so that animal health certification can be amended to reflect the fact the virus is in both jurisdictions on this island. We need to see the scaling up of testing so that we have an idea of where the virus is ahead of the warmer months. There is an absolute need to ensure adequate availability of vaccines and for the Government to partner with farmers in respect of the financial costs.

The Government must put in place a workable framework and allow farmers to do what they need to do. That has not always been the case when it comes to biosecurity. When we look at the TB programme, for which farmers pay levies and contribute labour, the total value of their contribution is in the tens of millions per year, alongside more again in taxpayer funding. Yet, rather than having something to show for it, incidence rates continue to rise. The European Union has pulled funding from the eradication programme, having lost faith in the Government's ability to achieve reduced rates of TB. While the EU can lose faith in the Irish Government, take its money - or, more correctly, our money - and walk away, farmers facing TB breakdown cannot walk away. Those dealing with ash dieback cannot walk away. I ask the Minister to take on board these points and bring a renewed focus to his work on biosecurity more generally.

At the end of January, the first home-bred case of bluetongue was found in a cow in County Wexford through routine checks in a slaughterhouse. That was the first time we saw it in an Irish-born animal, and it has, rightly, put farmers on edge. Now we are told, and it is important to repeat, that bluetongue does not affect people or the safety of our milk or meat and does not jump from animal to animal.

The problem is the midges spread it and, as many farmers will tell you, you cannot fence out midges. As a result of this one case, we have temporarily lost our bluetongue-free status. That means some countries will not take certain animals from us for now, even though movement within Ireland and to most markets can continue. Farmers did not create this situation but they are the ones who are dealing with the consequences yet again. We have also seen exports for further feeding in Northern Ireland suspended even though exports for slaughter can still go ahead. The Department says it is nearly impossible for a farmer to fully stop a midge-borne disease like this from reaching their herd and that is the reality on the ground. The Minister has confirmed the bluetongue vaccination will be allowed from next spring. This is welcome because every farmer knows the real danger time is when the weather warms up and midges are moving. The high-risk period will be summer 2026 and farmers need protection in place well before that.

The common-sense point is that farmers do not need more forms, more hoops or more delays. They need straight answers, quick access to vaccinations and clear guidelines that help them keep going. Time and again I have said in this House that rural Ireland is buried under needless bureaucracy. Farmers feel they are being treated as the problem instead of the people who feed the nation. I am asking the Government that we not drag our feet on this, that we get vaccinations out early, that we give farmers the information in plain language and that we support them instead of slowing them down. This is about protecting livelihoods, keeping cattle and sheep healthy and making sure rural Ireland does not get left behind once again.

While I am talking about farming, I want to use the time I have left to talk about the tillage farmers. Many of them are asking about the €30 million support for tillage announced in budget 2026. They have no date for payment of this but it is to be paid, they are being told, in the first six months of the year with an intention to pay it as soon as possible. From what we can gather an application needs to be filled in but farmers have no details on payment amounts and how that will be divided out. This is causing issues for farmers purchasing seed and fertiliser for the season ahead. The farming for water payments are also delayed and some farmers are due a good chunk of money from this scheme. The bottom line is farmers need to know when they are going to get this funding that has been announced because they are in dire circumstances at present.

While I have the floor, we must not forget the farmers who are inside Bord Bia’s buildings again this evening weeks after this dispute started standing for their bare rights and the rights of every farmer in this country. The west Cork IFA was there last Thursday and will be there again this Thursday. I will go down to support them every time they are there because they are standing for the common good and for common sense but unfortunately nobody is listening to them.

It is good to be able to speak to the Minister about this issue. It is very concerning that bluetongue has arrived in Ireland. It is causing a huge amount of fear and concern to farmers. It is a good thing we have discovered the disease at this time of year as it provides us with an opportunity to try to get ahead of this issue. As the Minister knows, it is the midges that spread bluetongue and it is also subject to the temperature being higher than 12°C. This cold and wet winter has provided us with an opportunity and I urge the Minister to really get ahead of this issue. He should ensure the testing is happening not just in Wexford but right across Ireland, though particularly in the affected region. As the temperature rises, we should consider additional controls in the area to ensure it does not spread any further. I also ask the Minister to look at the fact bluetongue can be spread via the semen of bulls and there are no additional checks around that. Farmers across Ireland who will be attending marts this week, next week and over the spring will be buying bulls and the Minister’s Department should be seriously looking at this. It should be putting in a scheme or checks for farmers selling bulls, so there would be some assistance to test those bulls. It should step up to the plate in this regard.

This issue has also raised another question, which is about hides and the fact the vast majority of Irish hides are exported to China. Some 42,000 tonnes of hides were exported there last year. That represents significant exposure. We are entirely exposed because we are selling all our hides to one market. This issue has presented to the Minister a problem that cannot be ignored. He must seek out other markets for these hides. As the Minister knows, the man who controls the offal and the man who controls the hide controls the kill. We cannot allow our farmers to be so exposed in relation to that. I urge the Minister to use this as an opportunity, along with his Department and officials, to develop further export markets for both hides and offal.

I thank the Minister for the recent briefing with his officials and I look forward to working with him on this issue over the weeks and months ahead. The spring is coming and the summer is coming and temperatures will rise. When they do, there will be a significant and greater risk of bluetongue. It is important we do not catastrophise about this issue but this could potentially be the calm before the storm. I want to ensure we protect our farmers, that we have all the checks in place and that we ramp up checks in that region, in Munster and across Ireland as well.

I welcome this debate. The Dáil has learned a lot about bluetongue. People need to know anything you eat is safe and that it does not spread, like some diseases, mouth to mouth. I think that is very important for the public. I ask the Minister one thing, which is that public representatives are informed about where we are with Tunisia, Northern Ireland and the likes of Greece and some other countries he would be familiar with that we are exporting to. We are getting a lot of feedback at the moment from Northern Ireland and we are hearing this blame game going on. The North is saying it is not responsible and that it is the Irish side. We are getting the same type of stuff from the shippers. The Department staff need to be clear with us, so we know what is going on. In fairness, the Department briefed us before and we appreciate that but we need up-to-date briefings because there is a fair bit of over and back, and Scotland is being brought into it now, about what is going on with exports to Northern Ireland and the UK. We are fairly okay with some of the European countries but in others, it seems to be 14 days. The Minister is well aware of videos that were going around from some shippers. All that is needed is for the Minister to be up front with us, so we can give the message to other people because this is about the live cattle industry. If you do not have a good live trade, the problem is the factories and the dead trade will try to take advantage, and we do not want that to happen. That is all I would ask the Minister for. All of us, including Deputies Martin Kenny and Paul Lawless, met the Minister before and we appreciate that but we need to know for those guys what is going on because there seems to be a vacuum for those people.

We are glad to have this debate because it is vital. Many Irish farmers do not really understand the implications of this or how it spreads.

We have been told it is caused by midges but I do not think any midges would survive coming from the North to Wexford. How did that happen? Simple questions like that need to be explained. If there is evidence of how it happened or may have spread, the Minister could provide a link to the country because we would like to know that.

Farmers around me have asked me questions. Are we importing straw? Can midges or insects be alive in straw and land here that way? If something like that is happening, we need to stop importing straw. We would have enough straw here if it was not being ploughed into the ground. We need straw for bedding calves, feeding cattle and mixing into diet feeders to help cattle improve and grow efficiently.

This could not be more serious. Given the trouble the Taoiseach and his officials went to in order to secure the Chinese market, it would be a shame to lose it. If other countries stopped us exporting or refused to take our exports, we would be in trouble. The price of cattle would come down despite what people have done over the winter.

There are other questions. When cattle are housed, are they safe? I do not see midges in housed cattle. We had midges at times, such as in the bog and other such places, so we do not want them. Can humans or birds spread bluetongue? Birds travel long distances. We need to be educated on how the disease spreads.

What are we doing in Wexford to curtail and stop the disease? We need to know what is involved and what is being done. Does the Minister have an answer as to why the disease is spreading from the North of Ireland to Wexford? We would like to hear that. Education is paramount to stopping the spread of the disease.

We were glad in the early 2000s when we stopped foot and mouth and kept it out of our country. That was vital. I ask the Minister and his officials to ensure they do their best to curtail the disease with all of the expertise they have available to them and ensure the disease does not become rampant in our country and in farms. As I have said many times, our farming community is vital for rural and urban Ireland because we depend on the sector for the food we eat every day.

Before I call Deputy Carthy, on behalf of Deputy Fitzmaurice, I welcome John Flynn, Mary Flynn, Jim Flynn and Eileen Flynn. You are all very welcome. I hope you enjoy the time in Leinster House.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for his indulgence. I welcome our guests from Roscommon. I am half a Roscommon man and the way the GAA is going this year, I think I will be a Rossies supporter this season.

I want to support what has been said by my Sinn Féin colleagues in respect of ensuring that bluetongue is addressed on an all-Ireland basis. In my view, it is absolutely crazy that we have a situation in my county, which I am sure is the same across the Border region, if not further beyond, whereby trading North and South has essentially been curtailed. That should not be the case, considering the efforts that went into ensuring we have an all-Ireland system in the outworking of Brexit. It could be argued that during the entire Brexit process, when all of Europe and the entire British establishment was in absolute turmoil, this House remained steadfast in setting out very clearly that the only way we could operate in terms of the food market was on an all-Ireland basis. Yet, it appears to many farmers that with the click of a finger, that can be upended. It is completely crazy.

Farmers in Monaghan cannot trade with farmers in Armagh. Let us be very clear about how those communities operate. It would be the equivalent of telling a farmer in Kerry that they could not trade across the border with those in Cork. It is unbelievable that we are even at this point. Not only are we at this point, this has continued for a number of weeks. I want to make an incredibly strong case for an all-Ireland approach and that we ensure the cross-Border limitations are lifted.

I also want to seek the assurance of the Minister that the Government is raising this matter at an EU level in order to ensure that animal health certifications are amended, as the virus obviously affects both jurisdictions. This is necessary in order to ensure the live trade experts can resume.

We need to scale up testing to ensure there is absolute certainty in respect of where the virus is before the weather gets any warmer and it begins to spread. We have had a desperate number of weeks in terms of weather conditions and farmers are undoubtedly under pressure. As we move forward to the spring, many wonder whether we will see a spring at all. Bluetongue could not have happened at a worse time, especially when the broad climate was generally positive in terms of prices being received. We know there are threats coming down the road.

We do not yet know what the situation regarding Mercosur will be. We hope it will not be provisionally applied and that the Government will ensure there is no support for the provisional application of the deal. We know there are other global challenges coming our way. We need to make sure that any challenges that our farmers are presented with are not imposed on them because of the failures of the House and Department to provide support. The core point I want to make is that we deal with this on an all-Ireland basis and stop the lunacy whereby people are being prevented from trading with their counterparts a few short miles away.

I thank all colleagues in the House for taking the time to engage in what is an important debate and asking a number of questions I would be happy to answer. I acknowledge the presence of hill farmers from Galway and Roscommon, as well as the president of Macra na Feirme and other representatives with Senator Brady.

In wrapping up, I will come back to each of the points that has been raised directly. I thank the Deputies who acknowledged the meetings I and my officials held and the ongoing engagement with members of the committee on agriculture, which have been important. Everyone has mentioned the stress and strain farmers face. Deputy Carthy outlined the horrendous weather we have experienced in recent times and the stress that brings. We all have a role to play in terms of being able to communicate clear answers. It is important that I am able to answer some of the questions from Deputies.

A lot of points have been raised. Deputy Kenny was the first to ask about the situation with regard to the North. It was a very clear question. Deputy Carthy and others also highlighted that. It is important to bear in mind that the decisions a member state takes on what it allows into its jurisdiction is a decision for it to make. As outlined in my opening remarks, it is possible to secure derogations to general rules to allow member states to act differently from a disease prevalence perspective. However, different member states cannot be treated differently. If a derogation is given for bluetongue, it is not just for serotype 3, which we have and which is the most prominent one, but it is for serotypes 1 to 24, inclusive, and applies to every member state. Therefore, how we treat one member state is how we treat everybody.

Deputy Fitzmaurice outlined videos online and different elements there. We are very much in the hands of the countries we trade with. From a market access perspective, that is no different from the export certificates that my veterinary teams negotiate with third countries or anywhere else. It is probably more unusual that it would happen in the European context, but from a disease-prevalence perspective that is how we engage. We have closely engaged with Northern Ireland. I had an online meeting with my counterpart in Northern Ireland, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, around where it is at in terms of its restrictions. It is on a different trajectory having identified it earlier before Christmas. We also spoke about the inroads we are making here and how we can try to harmonise our approaches in time. There are decisions for Northern Ireland to make in terms of what it allows into its jurisdiction, the same as there are for us as well in that. We have to be cognisant of what we allow in terms of the broader macro picture across Europe because dealing with Northern Ireland is the same as dealing with a member state due to the agreements that are in place. I am meeting Minister in person later this week and we will take the opportunity to engage on this issue, but our officials, including my Chief Veterinary Officer and members of my veterinary teams, are in constant contact with Northern Ireland as well. We are aware of the pressure and stress that this brings in that space.

Deputy Kenny and other Members raised the area of trade, in particular China, and the importance of regaining access for skins and hides. As I did in my opening address, I pay tribute to my officials who deal with market access and our officials in the embassy in Beijing who have worked very closely with Chinese officials in the General Administration of Customs of China, GAC. That is an important avenue and market for us. There was concern here when that avenue was closed to us and while we have made progress on the skins and hides, I continue to work on the area of the broader protocol. The approach to atypical BSE cases, which are completely sporadic and which are recognised by other member states as being one-off, has not in any way impacted on our negligible health status for BSE at the World Organisation for Animal Health level. A change in that protocol, regaining market access, would allow Irish food companies to invest in personnel on the ground to build those relationships without the fear of that market continuously ebbing and flowing. As we know, atypical BSE cases will happen sporadically. That is something I continue to work on with my officials.

Deputy Newsome Drennan raised the follow-up and surveillance. That has been extensive. She also said that there are questions that need to be answered about tracking and tracing. Our surveillance has been significant and extensive not just in Wexford but nationwide. It was not surprising that I unfortunately had to announce an additional case in this House today. That will happen because the more testing and tracking and surveillance we do, the more chances there are of being able to find it.

Deputies O'Donoghue, Whitmore and others talked about climate change. Climate change is a reality and that is why the enhanced biosecurity measures we have in place are important. We are in a changing environment and our warming temperatures and the changes around climate change are leading to what once would have been called exotic diseases becoming prevalent and established here. Deputy Whitmore also talked about expanding the vector sampling needed for climate resilience. My Department has the national animal health surveillance strategy, which guides our surveillance and guides our measures in that regard.

Deputies Aird and Callaghan thanked the officials and also spoke about the Chinese protocol, which I have dealt with.

Deputy Bennett raised about all-island approach, which I have also addressed. She also spoke about biosecurity. Great credit is due for successfully keeping it off the island before now. Let us consider our successful efforts when avian influenza became established here. We got our disease-free status back within three months. When that arrived in November at the start of the high-risk period, there was a very strong sense that we were facing into a very tough winter. The partnership and collaboration between our poultry sector, private veterinary practitioners and our regional veterinary officers really has delivered. The adoption of the enhanced biosecurity measures that I put in place has been important.

I agree with Deputy Collins about the need for clear information. I answer every question that I can and my Department's door is always open. He also spoke about the continuing work we do on accessing markets.

I agree with Deputy Lawless to a certain extent. It is not positive to have it here, but if we are going to find it, it is positive to have the winter months and the time to prepare and to respond. We will continue to do that in real time. The Deputy also raised the point about bulls. It is a fact that it can be spread by bulls in semen, so it is prudent for farmers to consider blood testing when buying bulls and rams before they go breeding. These are elements that it is prudent for farmers to reflect upon. I agree that it is important not to catastrophise these issues because we will deal with them in real time.

Deputy Fitzmaurice mentioned specific countries. I prefer not to focus on specific countries but, in general, we work closely between third markets and European markets. We have changed some veterinary health certificates around disease status. We have been working on that for the past two years and we continue to do that around a range of different diseases.

Deputy Healy-Rae questioned how midges survived from Northern Ireland to Wexford. Our very strong sense is that this infection did not come from Northern Ireland. It is not connected to the outbreaks in Northern Ireland but is much more likely to have come over on the wind from England or Wales. During the warmer weather, we monitored the wind patterns with Met Éireann and UCD. Midges blowing over the Irish Sea was a much more likely cause of this spread. The first animal that tested positive was in a field beside the sea, one of the first places it could have landed. It is not likely at all that imported straw is a contributing factor. Are cattle safe if they are housed? It is related to the activity of midges. The temperature needs to be constantly north of 12oC for the disease to be able to travel in midges as vectors. Can humans spread it? No. Can birds spread it? No. What are we doing in Wexford? The height of surveillance being employed is across the board and not just in Wexford. It is across the country, as is the tracking and tracing.

An important point to make is that there will not be large-scale restrictions in the summertime because the disease is being recategorised in July across the EU. That will make life easier for us in some ways. It was not something we wanted when we were free of this disease. We wanted to be able to identify as quickly as possible. We did not want to lose our disease-free status, but now it is gone. We were the last of the European countries to be in that space, so there will be some relaxation of how we operate with that from July onwards. The roll out of vaccines will be a commercial decision for farmers. My role was to make it available and make sure we engaged with vaccine companies so that stock would be available. It is a commercial decision and we continue to work on that basis.

I thank my colleagues for engaging constructively on this matter. My door and the door of my officials continue to be open. We want to reassure farmers and consumers that there are no health or food safety concerns around bluetongue. This is a production disease that has significant concerns for farmers. I will continue to work with my officials across the Department and with other countries to minimise the worst impacts of this.