Dublin Report Ireland Inc. bears brunt of foot-and-mouth measures

By John Kelly

The island of Ireland is now on emergency alert. The great fear now, after the second reported case of foot and mouth disease on the Cooley Peninsula, is that other animals in other parts of the island may have already have the virus.

Despite all of the spectacular success of the Celtic Tiger, the economy is largely dependent on agriculture. Ireland exports the vast bulk of its produce. Any bans on those exports can have disastrous consequences.

Luckily, the European Union has agreed to continue to allow the £11 billion Irish food and drink market to continue its exports to member states. The Irish government managed to convince its partners to treat Ireland it on the basis of regionalization.

As of now, bans apply only to livestock from infected areas.

The first confirmed outbreak of foot and mouth disease within the Republic in 60 years occurred on a farm on the Cooley Peninsula, that thin spit of land extending into the Irish Sea northeast of Dundalk.

It lies within an already defined exclusion area, only a few miles from South Armagh, where the first case occurred last month.

With luck, the Irish government order to slaughter all livestock within the cross-border area will ensure that it spreads no farther. The president of the Irish Farmer’s Association, Tom Parlon, estimates that as many as 400,000 livestock will have to be culled.

The aim now is to confine the outbreak to that area. Irish diplomats have launched a campaign to convince the 15 European states and its major trading partners throughout the world that Irish food is still safe for consumption.

So far, so good. However, the minister for agriculture, Joe Walsh, has confirmed that the source of the infection is not known. He has not ruled out the possibility that it could have been airborne, traveling across the Irish Sea from Britain.

The gravity of the crisis confronting the UK cannot be understated. The infection has been detected in all parts of the island. Only Scotland has escaped relatively lightly.

Thousands of animals are slaughtered daily. Experts predict that it will not peak until May. It will take at least another two months to sound the all clear. Billions will be wiped out of the British economy.

Ireland continues to suffer major losses, especially in tourism. The cancellation of the St. Patrick’s Day alone festivities has cost millions.

The Irish Hotel’s Federation estimates that about 150 jobs in the tourism sector are being lost each week. More than 3,000 conferences and all sorts of events have been cancelled.

The minister for agriculture insists that other events, particularly in sports, should remain cancelled.

If the infection continues to affect the UK until May, as predicted, such major events as the All-Ireland championships could also be cancelled.

It seems that the disease is out of control in Britain, which has no fewer than 454 cases. This is much more extensive than it suffered in its last major outbreak, in 1967.

While the Irish government is keen not to point any fingers, most Irish people are amazed at the apparent nonchalance of our closest neighbors in fighting what they now admit is an epidemic.

While Ireland has almost closed down, the British government continues to encourage its citizens to enjoy the pleasures of the countryside, insisting that many disease-free regions are safe to visit. The prime minister, Tony Blair, is proceeding with his aim to hold the general election in May. Many in Ireland feel that he is simply not doing enough to prevent the spread of the foot and mouth virus.

It will be a virtual miracle if Ireland continues to escape as lightly as it has.

Without question, this is the gravest crisis that has faced the island for many decades.

Irish agriculture accounts for more than a quarter of all Irish exports. Exports are worth more approximately £4.5 billion. It employs an estimated 200,000 workers, both directly and indirectly. No fewer than 700 companies are dependent on it.

Yet the Irish government has a difficult task to balance the needs of the equally vital tourism industry, which, of course, is more job intensive with an estimated 153,000 workers involved.

Already, tourist figures estimate that about £174 million has been lost in overseas earnings, with an estimated drop of £49 million so far in the home market. If there are further cases, this will, of course, become very serious indeed.

This does not mean that "Ireland Inc." has closed down. Above all, it does not mean that potential visitors from the U.S. have any reason to change their travel plans.

Still, some facts have to be faced.

As of now, the Irish government is actively discouraging visits to the countryside. It also advises people not to travel from farm to farm. It appeals to them to avoid large gatherings — hence the curtailment of many sporting events.

Other than that, Ireland is still pretty much the same as it always has been, apart from an understandable level of national paranoia.

Disinfected mats are to be found almost everywhere, even outside the main doors of city hotels and public houses. There is a massive police presence all around the border with long delays at some of the busiest crossings, such as Lifford in County Donegal and Aughnacloy in County Tyrone.

Cars, trucks and busses are regularly hosed with disinfectants, while impregnated mats front all farm entrances. Marts are closed throughout the island and all livestock are virtually confined to base.

The biggest danger of all is that the disease may not be caused by a single strain of the virus. This is why European countries are reluctant to disinfect, although in Holland, where three cases have been identified, vaccination will be carried out on a limited basis.

The big problem is that while vaccines will prevent the disease in individual animals, it does not prevent them from carrying the virus to infect others. As a result most European countries prohibit the importation of vaccinated animals.

There are no easy solutions. Ireland remains in a state of crisis. But there is absolutely no reason why Americans should cancel plans to visit.

The island is still the "Ireland of the welcomes."