98 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether it is appropriate that the Revenue Commissioners are still organising seminars throughout the country while many other events are being cancelled due to the foot and mouth crisis; and if he has satisfied himself that there is a consistent policy throughout the public service in this regard. [8342/01]

The Revenue Commissioners are participating actively, especially through Customs activities, in the national efforts to prevent the disease from coming into this country. In addition, the commissioners are taking all the precautions recommended by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Instructions were immediately issued to all local managers in relation to these recommended precautions. Compliance and audit visits to farms and to premises supplying farm inputs were suspended. All non-essential internal meetings and training courses were also suspended. The Revenue board conveyed to all its managers the Government decision that non-essential events involving the bringing together of people from farming communities or from infected areas should be cancelled. This instruction was followed throughout Revenue.