138 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, which he has taken to make farmers aware of the symptoms of bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and the way in which farmers can best co-operate with veterinary practitioners and other professionals in the food and agriculture industries to ensure that there is early diagnosis of this disorder when it occurs. [18833/95]

Immediately the presence of BSE became known in 1988 my Department initiated a campaign to alert official veterinary staff and private veterinary practitioners as to the symptoms of the disease; this included the use of relevant video material obtained from the UK authorities, which was circulated to local veterinary societies. In addition, on numerous occasions, animals affected with BSE have been shown on various farming programmes on national television as well as the national news. The disease is notifiable and there is an obligation on anybody who possesses a suspected animal to report the fact to the Department without delay. As with most diseases the evaluation of clinical symptoms is a matter for appropriately qualified persons.