The Department of Agriculture said yesterday it is monitoring reports from Britain, where the Ministry of Agriculture has agreed to examine the brains of two hens suspected of having a BSE type disease.
A report in the Independent On Sunday newspaper claimed two hens, one from Kent and one from South Wales, had been forwarded to the Ministry by Dr Harash Narang, a scientist working on BSE.
The newspaper said conflict between Dr Narang, who claims avian spongiform encephalopathy is possible, and the Ministry had moved with the change of government in Britain to agreement by the Ministry to examine the birds to see if there is any possible link between the symptoms displayed by the hens and BSE.
Poultry all over Europe, including Ireland, is fed meat and bonemeal rendered from the carcasses of cattle.