News - Agriculture Committee engages with Animal Health Ireland
The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture today met with Animal Health Ireland (AHI) and engaged in a wide-ranging discussion its work.
Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “The Committee today heard how an organisation with limited resources like Animal Health Ireland can play a key role in safeguarding the food industry.
“The prosperity of the food industry, worth up to €10 billion annually, is directly related to the safety of the food we are producing. Indeed, animal health, animal welfare and farm profitability are fundamentally interlinked and of equal importance. Committee Members were impressed with the organisation’s innovative structure, which receives funding from government, processors and livestock producers.
“The detailed briefing afforded an insight into how AHI has punched above its weight since its foundation in 2009. By seeking to emulate international best practice, it has established itself firmly as the authority on safeguarding against costly non-regulated animal diseases such as BVD and Johne's disease.
“Tapping into the knowledge of over 58 specialists nationwide on a pro-bono basis, AHI is a model of how best to support an industry so critical to national economic recovery.”
Ends
"Enhancing value for beef and dairy farmers and the agri-food industry through superior animal health"