Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Sheahan for his presentation. Like the Chairman, I am disappointed that there has been a presentation on TB but that there was no mention of deer and the problems they cause. It seems to be a common theme in the Department that there is no recognition of the fact that deer can be infected with TB. I was recently told that there where post-mortems are carried out on deer, up to 18% are shown to be infected with TB. Some farmers in west Wicklow have stopped keeping cattle altogether because they are failing to eradicate TB, the root cause of which is deer. Experts say the deer are infected by badgers and, therefore, they are not the source of the infection. Nonetheless, deer often carry TB. The deer population is increasing dramatically in line with the increase in forestry. In my county, there have been some serious breakdowns, a significant number of which were at the edge of forests. Telling farmers that deer do not play an important part in the spread of TB will not wash. Our reluctance to tackle the deer population or to cull some animals will prevent us getting to grips with the problem of TB.

Mr. Sheahan stated, "Working together with stakeholders, we are confident we can eradicate TB by 2030. To do so will require decisions that may be difficult for some in the short term". Farmers are the only people in the country who have paid a significant cost as a result of TB. Whatever decisions are taken by the Department, such as those relating to the on-farm evaluation system, the loss of animals or the severe hardship incurred at farm level, it is, unfortunately, farmers who will ultimately pay in financial terms.

I have serious concerns about how there seems to be a focus by the Department to say that herds that have had TB are a risk for a number of years afterwards. That puts a black mark on herds that have been affected by TB, even though they may have had a couple of clear tests. If I understand matters correctly, the Department is saying that a herd will have a stigma attached to it for up to ten years if it has had TB. I have heard that farms' TB history will be shown on boards in marts. That will mean that cattle or weanlings sold from those herds will have a reduced attractiveness for buyers and will command a lower price. This shows that there is no confidence in the TB test because surely if a herd has passed two tests, it is clear of TB. The Department is saying, however, that for up to ten years animals from that herd will have a greater risk. As a farmer, I cannot get my head around or accept that. It will incur significant costs for and impose a great deal of hardship on farmers. I cannot see the benefit of that.

The culling of badgers has worked very well where it has been done. This has reduced the level of TB. If there is a successful vaccination for badgers, why do we need a cull? Could we not get to a point where there would be a blanket vaccination of badgers? Culling healthy badgers is a hindrance rather than a help. If we had a vaccination process so that badgers were not transmitting the disease, we would take a large step forward. Why can a vaccination not be more widely used?

Where there is a breakdown, the Department comes in and insists on performing the blood tests. I agree with that principle. Are there figures available in respect of the number of false positives relating to blood tests as compared with those involving skin tests? I agree that blood tests will identify reactor animals quicker than skin tests but what are the figures for false positives? Looking at the map, the Six Counties are blank. What level of tuberculosis is there in Northern Ireland? What regulations are there for tuberculosis there? Are they compatible with ours? I was president of a farming organisation before I became a Deputy. Brucellosis had virtually been eradicated but then there was a reinfection involving animals from south Armagh and we were back to square one. Is there a compatible level of testing in Northern Ireland? If we do everything to an A1 standard here and there is not the same level in Northern Ireland, there will be reinfections.

I am disappointed that there is not a focus on deer and their role in transmitting the disease. I accept that they are not the primary source of infection but, in my view and from my experience, they play a serious role in transmitting disease. They travel a lot of the countryside and are a serious problem. A farmer could come outside and see 40 or 50 deer eating silage out of his pit or feeding on his grass. They drink out of the same water troughs. We lifted water troughs in the past and it stopped badgers from getting access to water but, unfortunately, that will not help with deer, which will have access to the same water sources as herds of cattle

. Those are the questions I would like to be answered. These decisions will be difficult in the short term if there are financial repercussions for farmers.