“The risk to Ireland from exotic animal diseases is higher now than at any time in the modern era. In the past, we have at times faced individual disease threats, but today our livestock are threatened by a number of very serious diseases close to our shores. I am focussed on doing all we can to protect our animals, to protect the agri-food sector, and to deal with any outbreak effectively."

“A FMD outbreak in Ireland would be devastating. This disease is a daily occurrence in many developing countries in Africa and Asia, and in 2025 we have seen three EU countries experience outbreaks, the first in many decades. Germany had a single outbreak in January, followed by multiple outbreaks in Hungary and Slovakia in March and April. Thankfully, it looks like these outbreaks may now be over, thanks to the effective actions taken to stop disease spread in those countries. It is clear that Ireland remains at risk, which is why I have emphasised to stakeholders and anyone returning from infected areas to practice strict biosecurity and to keep infection out."

“As we come into the summer holiday season, I want to send a clear message: if you have been travelling abroad in an area affected by FMD (which includes most parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East), avoid contact with cattle, sheep, goats and pigs for 14 days after returning to Ireland. That means no farm visits, including to open farms or agri-tourism farms. If you come into contact with farm animals while abroad, wash your clothes and disinfect your footwear before you return, or immediately upon arrival. Do not feed food waste to pigs or indeed any animals, as that can be a source of several animal diseases.

“Bluetongue disease has spread across Europe since 2023, and has now reached the north-western coast of England. This disease of cattle and sheep is spread by biting midges. Climate change has increased the risk, as the midges transmit the virus only in warmer months. My department is carrying out surveillance to detect any incursions as early as possible, and working with Met Eireann to see where infected midges from Great Britain or France may be blown by the wind into Ireland. We will soon be entering the highest risk part of the year, and my department has been meeting with stakeholders and with Minister Muir’s officials in Northern Ireland to raise awareness and prepare for any cases.”

“The importation of BTV-susceptible animals from Great Britain has been banned since November 2023. While animals may enter Ireland from BTV-free zones of other EU countries under certain strict certification conditions, no such movements have occurred since July 2024. For many years, my department has checked and blood tested any cattle, sheep, or other susceptible animals immediately after arrival from other EU countries, and this policy remains in place, protecting against the risk of a BTV-infected animal coming in.”

“Over the past few months, we faced a very serious threat of an avian influenza outbreak in our poultry. My department detected the H5N1 virus in a number of wild birds across the country, while in Northern Ireland sadly there were three outbreaks in poultry farms in February. Strict biosecurity is the most effective way to protect a flock, and I want to particularly recognise and praise the actions of poultry farmers and the poultry industry in this regard. We are now out of the higher risk winter period for this disease, but we expect an ongoing level of risk even in the summer months. This is a disease which does not just threaten poultry; it also poses a very serious risk to human health.”

“The actions I have taken cannot eliminate these risks or guarantee that we will escape an outbreak; the risks are real and are not going away. But by communicating how to protect our livestock, by raising awareness, by carrying out targeted early warning surveillance, and by working across Government and with partners internationally, my actions give confidence that we are prepared and ready.”