Minister McConalogue launches new Animal Health Surveillance Strategy (2023-2028)
Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D., today welcomed the launch of the Animal Health Surveillance Strategy (2023-2028). Responding to commitments in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future (2020), Minister McConalogue said: “This strategy builds on my Department’s work on the previous Animal Health Surveillance Strategy (2016 – 2021), reaffirming our commitment to animal health surveillance for the future and reinforcing the key recommendations and achievements already accomplished by it.
Animal health surveillance data are an invaluable resource which help to optimize the monitoring and control of diseases known to be present throughout the country’s animal populations. Furthermore, such data help us prepare for, and thus minimize the impact of, any exotic, new or previously unknown disease outbreak were it to occur. It helps to safeguard not only animal health and welfare, but also public health and food safety. On the international stage, Ireland continues to build on its excellent reputation as a country that actively promotes and safeguards animal health, and our credibility with international trading partners is strengthened by the reliable animal health surveillance systems we have in place.”
The Minister continued: “Since the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the importance of a One Health approach to achieving optimal health outcomes by recognizing the interconnections amongst humans, animals, and the environment has never been more pertinent. My Department has a long history of supporting the One Health approach, and is committed to adopting a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach with colleagues, both within the Department of Health and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, to ensure this critical work continues. Effective animal health surveillance is crucial to this One Health approach, and we will continue to review and enhance our passive and active surveillance systems – not only for farmed animals, including equines, but extending to include companion animals and wildlife also.
This new strategy is underpinned by the principles of robust governance, science and evidence-led policy making and consistent adaptation to emerging disease threats and trends.”
The Animal Health Surveillance Strategy 2023 – 2028 can be downloaded here: Animal Health Surveillance Strategy 2023 - 2028 (pdf 3,073Kb)