Mr. Eoin Ryan:

I take on board what the Deputy says, but in Tipperary, for instance, we recently tested three deer, none of which had TB. I am familiar with the outbreak in Killoscully. If people there want to shoot some deer and get them submitted to us, we will test them for free and then we can actually have some data. I said this the other night in Nenagh. We have said this at multiple public meetings. If farmers are concerned, we are happy to test those deer. That can be arranged, and there is no problem with that.

However, we cannot operate without the basis of evidence. It is just the case that, when we tested deer outside Wicklow, we found that three out of 74 had TB. That deer may share the same habitat as cattle does not mean they are driving infection into them. Any mammal in the countryside can get TB. It is entirely possible that deer may be a spillover host, in that they picked up infection from cattle, badgers or whatever. That does not necessarily mean that they will pass it back on.

Regarding forestry, this matter was raised at our TB forum. It was suggested by the farming organisations that Coillte should be invited as the largest landowner in the country. It was invited and has made a positive contribution.

The Deputy's point about the perceived association between forestry clearfelling and TB outbreaks was also put to us. We are going to do as the Deputy says and carry out some research on the matter. Instead of saying it could be this or that, we will look to see whether there is a correlation between proximity to forestry and risk of TB. Our feeling with much of this is that the answer will be found by examining the evidence and data and basing policy on same. It is another example of how our increased engagement and discussion with stakeholders has borne fruit - there was a concern and we are now moving to address it.