Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for the very good presentations. I grew up on a farm and this reminds me of the time in the 1970s when people working on farms were being diagnosed with brucellosis, particularly chronic brucellosis. At the time, it took GPs some time to become familiar with the symptoms of this disease and from what the witnesses have said, their experience sounds very much like that. Ms Annette Moloney and Ms Tracy Brennan spoke about their experience in the different hospitals they went to in Ireland. Have they spoken to the hospital personnel about the need for one hospital to focus on Lyme disease and develop the necessary structure to deal with the low number of patients who contract it? Have those who have had the disease considered looking at that?

Mr. Casey might be able to comment on whether it is possible to reduce the level of ticks carried by the deer population? Can a course of action be taken in that regard in light of the future growth of the deer population? Mr. Casey referred to the analysis of the blood testing of farmers in Northern Ireland. Have the universities in the South considered taking on a research project on that topic to follow on from what has done in Northern Ireland? Would UCD or UCC be in a position to consider a joint project of research in conjunction with the veterinary college?