Cowen backs plans for all-Ireland farming agenda

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Brian Cowen, tonight backed plans for an all-Ireland approach to animal health issues in support of proposals by farm groups from both sides of the border.

Operation Oxblood - probe into the illegal movement of animals

Mr Cowen, speaking at an Institute of Directors' function in Dublin, said he was encouraged by the shared views of the Ulster Farmers' Union and their Irish Farmers' Association counterparts.

The Minister said: "The sad events of recent weeks have made it abundantly clear why an island-wide approach to animal health is vital to ensure the economic well-being of our people."

In Co Tipperary a man arrested last night in relation to the alleged illegal movement of livestock was released this afternoon and a file is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

He is the third man to be questioned this week as part of a Garda investigation - codenamed 'Operation Oxblood' - into the illegal movement of livestock and interference with tags and animal identification.

Superintendent Joe Shelly, of Mullingar Garda Station, said a Tipperary man was detained at 6.40 p.m. yesterday and questioned by National Bureau of Criminal Investigation officers.

Last month, 13 unidentified cattle were slaughtered in Tipperary raising fears that smuggling of livestock is continuing despite the foot-and-mouth clampdown.

The cattle were found wandering on a road in the Glen of Atherlow, Co Tipperary, over the St Patrick's Day weekend and were killed on March 21st when their owner could not be found. Their identification tags had been removed.

It serves as an endorsement to the decision to extend the cull to the entire Cooley Peninsula. Spokesman for the Department of Agriculture, Mr Paul Savage

It confirmed the cull of livestock on the Cooley Peninsula was likely to be completed this evening. The number of farms still under restriction is 529.

Mr Paul Savage, spokesman for the Department, said antibodies for foot-and-mouth had been detected in a number of blood samples taken from animals slaughtered in the cull.

Earlier today, it was confirmed that antibodies were in samples taken from sheep on a farm adjacent to where the only outbreak in the State occurred on a Proleek farm in Co Louth. Antibodies were also found in wild mountain goats that were killed in the cull.

Last Saturday, the cull was extended to all animals on the Cooley Peninsula when antibodies were found on an outfarm to the farm at Proleek.

Mr Savage said the discovery of antibodies presents no risk of another outbreak occurring and that all the animals involved had been slaughtered. "It serves as an endorsement to the decision to extend the cull to the entire Cooley Peninsula."

The Department is expecting final results on test samples from a sheep in Co Tipperary and a pig in Wicklow over the weekend.

Junior Agriculture Minister Mr Noel Davern today expressed his disgust that animals were still being transported illegally in defiance of foot-and-mouth measures.

Mr Davern, whose constituency includes Tipperary, said he was "angry and annoyed" at the discovery as it meant cattle of clearly dubious origin were being moved around at a time when a foot-and-mouth alert was continuing.

Mr Davern said: "Obviously the checking system was getting too hot for somebody, and these animals were dumped, regardless of any care for their welfare, and endangering the local community and the national economy."

[New powers can deal with] this tiny minority of unscrupulous individuals IFA President Mr Tom Parlon

IFA President Mr Tom Parlon also criticised "rogue traders" or anybody who would put the national herd at risk. He reiterated his call for the full rigours of the law to be used such individuals.

He said new legislation gave the Government broad powers to deal with "this tiny minority of unscrupulous individuals". He urged any farmers or people with information of illegal activity to cooperate fully with the authorities and the Garda.