Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
692. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that valais blacknose ovine semen is being imported from the UK that does meet Scrapie 1 regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16526/26]
View answer693. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason Ireland is registering valais blacknose sheep that are the progeny of UK sheep who do not meet the Scrapie 1 regulations; and are bred using imported ovine semen. [16527/26]
View answer696. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has contacted those breeders who are registered with an organisation (details supplied) as having valais blacknose sheep that are not meeting Scrapie 1 regulations to determine where they received the ovine semen to breed these sheep. [16530/26]
View answer697. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the continuation of breeding of sheep with ovine semen that does not meet Scrapie 1 will affect Ireland’s scrapie status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16531/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 692, 693, 696 and 697 together.
There is no Valais Blacknose sheep organisation currently recognised by my Department as a breed society in accordance with the Animal Breeding Regulations (Regulation (EU) 2016/1012). Germinal products (semen, embryos, ova) must only be imported into Ireland from Approved Germinal Product Establishments, must be accompanied by Health Certificates and must be registered on TRACES as per EU Delegated Regulation 2020/686 and EU Delegated Regulation 2020/692.
The illegal import of semen into Ireland poses a risk to the health of the national flock. Following previous similar complaints to my Department, an intensive investigation was carried out and actions taken to, inter alia, inform breeders of their legal obligations in this area. Any information on illegal activities should be brought to the attention of my Department.
My Department published on gov.ie an information note for the importation of sheep/ovine germinal products: [Information Note] and a note was also placed in the Teagasc Sheep Newsletter in August 2024: [Teagasc Sheep Newsletter].
My Department has not contacted breeders registered with the named organisation regarding the scrapie status of the Valais Blacknose breed. The onus is on sheep breeders to ensure that their breeding operation does not adversely affect the scrapie status of their individual flock.
