Animal Diseases

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025

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Thursday, 11 December 2025

Questions (504, 505, 506)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

504. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has approved vaccines for bluetongue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70902/25]

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

505. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has begun vaccinating cattle and sheep against bluetongue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70903/25]

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

506. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that Ireland has enough vaccines against bluetongue to prevent a widescale outbreak in cattle and sheep populations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70904/25]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 504, 505 and 506 together.

Ireland remains free of the bluetongue virus (BTV) and our current policy focuses on preventing the introduction of the disease and were it to arrive, its rapid detection and eradiction.

Vaccination against bluetongue has not been permitted thus far in Ireland, because the disease has not been present. Following the recent outbreak of bluetongue in Northern Ireland, my Department is closely examining the situation and reviewing all tools which may be useful in reducing the impact on Irish livestock of any incursion. My Department is actively examining the potential role which vaccination can play to help protect Irish livestock when the higher risk disease transmission period begins, which will be in late Spring/early Summer. My Department is also engaging with BTV vaccine companies.

My Department has engaged regularly over the past two years with the relevant stakeholders in relation to bluetongue and will continue to do so. The movement of ruminants from Northern Ireland to Ireland for breeding and production is no longer permitted. Direct-to-slaughter movements remain permitted, where animals are accompanied by a veterinary health certification, movements are direct and non-stop to the slaughterplant, and are pre-notified to my Department. My Department is carrying out enhanced surveillance for the virus in order to detect any potential incursion as early as possible.

Question No. 505 answered with Question No. 504.

Question No. 506 answered with Question No. 504.

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