Roundstone News 20^th February 2006

I really do not have a lot of news apart from a call which relates to the Avian Flu that got my attention, so I thought I would pass this on to you

A family who have chickens and ducks wanted to have them put down or to find a home for them because of the possibility of the avian bird flue hitting Ireland, and naturally enough the parents were concerned about their kids possibly falling sick from the bird flu.

Rightly or wrongly, they were advised accordingly not to have them put down, but be advised to check with the Department of Agriculture for advice. What I was trying to say to them that if their birds were infected, then consequently killed and buried without proper controls the consequences could be enormous.

The bird flu for the moment is in Europe, the chances of Ireland contracting the bird flu is still very small, we only have birds on the migratory path from Northern Scandinavia to Ireland, the swallows and Sand Martin’ migrate from Africa.

However I made contact with Department of Agriculture this morning, and without going into much detail Mary Coughlan, who is the Minister for Agriculture and Food, did say that now that the bird flu has hit Europe it is a matter for concern, but the department assessment & their constant vigilance feel that Ireland is still at low risk. I would strongly recommend that if there are any concerns relating to wildfowl, is to check out the government website www.agriculture.gov.ie this site will give you all the updates and information of the avian flu and plans to be implemented should the avian flu come to our shores.

The foot and mouth out break in 2001 was well handled, as will be the avian Flu should in the unlikely event that it hits our shores.

Also I gather from a member of the Department of Agriculture that all local Radio stations including ours will be giving regular bulletins to be put out on air. There is also a flu helpline 01 607 2512

Bottom line is don’t think of putting your healthy birds down or given away based on what you have heard. It’s a case now of just being vigilant and report any unusual patterns of mortality of wild birds.

It makes sense to seek professional advice from the Agricultural Department. We have enough problems with the mink cleaning our stock out.

Just before my broadcast I received a press release via E.mail from the department 6.30 pm 20th February 2006.

As follows

PRESS RELEASE

32/06

COUGHLAN URGES CONTINUED VIGILANCE ON BIRD ‘FLU FOLLOWING COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING

The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan T.D., speaking in Brussels today following a meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers, said that Commissioner Kyprianou and a number of the Member States affected by avian ‘flu in recent weeks had provided a very informative update on the situation at European level.

Minister Coughlan said that she fully supports the efforts of the EU Commission and Member States to contain the outbreaks and in adopting strict measures to avoid further spread of the disease. The virus to date has occurred only in the wild bird population within the EU and so far has not been found in the commercial sector.

The Commission is to examine issue of compensation for poultry farmers who are not directly affected but suffer losses because of the restrictions on trade and the fall in consumption, and to submit proposals as soon as possible. Opinion is divided on the use of vaccines and discussions are taking place in various Expert groups on this particular issue. 

The Commission has been asked to collect and analyse the latest data from Member States on the incidence of the bird ‘flu virus in wild birds. Any adjustments that need to be made to the latest measures taken will be submitted to the EU Veterinary Experts Group for decision.

The Minister repeated earlier assurances that Ireland had in place a robust range of contingency measures and urged poultry flockowners and the public to heed the advice being offered by her Department. In particular, Minister Coughlan, said that it was very important that all flockowners took all reasonable measures to prevent contact between wild birds and domestic poultry and other birds.

She added that flockowners should also ensure now that they will be in a position to keep poultry indoors in the event that it becomes necessary to require this on a compulsory basis.

“We are not yet at that stage but it is a measure under consideration and one which would help to prevent contact between wild birds and domestic poultry. There are a number of factors which have to be taken into account and we must balance a number of interests before taking the decision to require the compulsory housing of poultry. I have asked the Expert Advisory Group which I established last week under the chairmanship of Professor Michael Monaghan to advise me as to the circumstances in which such a move would be appropriate.”

The Minister also confirmed that a ban had now been extended to all shows and other gatherings of poultry and other birds.

Concluding the Minister said that while it was important that everybody maintained their vigilance, it was equally important that people maintained a sense of balance and proportion. While the threat has increased, the main focus must continue to be on maintaining good biosecurity measures and reporting any unusual patterns of mortality in wild birds. In this regard the Minister repeated the avian ‘flu helpline number which is 01-607 2512.

20 February, 2006

Jose Mannion:

Congratulations to Jose Mannion, from Murvey side, Jose has reached the big 50 last week, its never too late to wish him Happy Birthday hope there was a good party, I remember my 50^th, oh boy ! was not quite sure the next day whether I would reach my 51^st, however still here, welcome to the club Jose, being in the fifties is great.

Mary and Tom O’Donnell;

Talking about the big 50, congratulations to Tom and Mary O’Donnell they have just celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary.

I think we have a lot to learn from these two.

The immediate family celebrated this event by mass on Saturday, then Tom and Mary were taken to Dinner in Noel Kings Rolls Royce to the Station House, and I am reliably told that family members turned up from America and various parts of Ireland to celebrate this event.

Looking at it now for as long as I have known Tom and Mary it’s plain to see what that ingredient has been for the last 5o years.