The Government has put in place a new "early response system" to deal with incidents of serious animal and human health problems where the cause is not readily obvious. This follows shortcomings in the investigation of hundreds of farm animals in Askeaton, Co Limerick - a definitive cause has yet been found.
The Cabinet has ratified the new arrangements, in the form of a protocol agreed by the Departments of Agriculture, Health and the Environment, with the Environmental Protection Agency.
Announcing the protocol yesterday, the EPA admitted that the Askeaton animal health problems prompted the changes. "Because of the absence of a pre-arranged system of notification, the State agencies did not become involved for a considerable time after the problems concerned. This meant there was a limited opportunity to take measurements at the most critical time," an EPA spokeswoman said.
Other problems were due to lack of statistics on national norms for disease. Under the protocol these will be available an on-going basis. The protocol also provides for environmental monitoring of the main industrial activities near problem areas.
The importance of contact with the local community during any investigations is also recognised. The Department of Agriculture will have responsibility for overall co-ordination of animal health investigations.
The notification system establishes new lines of responsibility where preliminary investigations fail, facilitates networking between local authorities and health boards, and allows animal and/or human health groups to be called in at an earlier stage.
Cork Environmental Alliance welcomed the new protocol but questioned the timing of its publication. Mr Derry Chambers, for the CEA, said it was worrying that new arrangements were announced in advance of the decision on Aughinish Alumina's pollution control licence. "We are concerned that this announcement is just a cynical attempt by the EPA to muddy the waters prior to issuing a watered-down pollution licence."
The admission in the protocol that the EPA cannot provide an answer to the animal health problems in Askeaton "ensures that whoever was responsible will now escape identification and punishment", Mr Chambers claimed.
Animal health problems in Askeaton were first reported in 1988, when cows on the dairy farm of Mr Liam Somers at Ballysteen failed to thrive.
The problem got worse with particularly high number of deaths including calf mortalities in 1992-93. The State leased the farm to conduct extensive cattle health trials. Similar problems were experienced on the holding of Mr Justin Ryan at Toomdeely, which was bought by the State in 1995.
Reports of problems on 25 other farms followed, with concerns about the level of human illness in the area. Without national baseline data, diagnosis was difficult to make on these farms.
Results from various studies have been published in two interim EPA reports, the most recent one last June. It concluded that whatever had caused the problems no longer posed a threat to the area. A further interim report is due next month and a final report next year.
