Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for leaving earlier but I had to attend a vote in the Seanad. I welcome the departmental veterinary officials. I could declare a vested interest, but I will not. One of the key issues for the farming community, which I discussed approximately 12 months ago with Mr. Sheahan, is that the forum will use the ten-year history as a tool to get information out. The general farming community is concerned about how this would impact them financially. Will there be a financial package in place if a farmer was to have his or her herd devalued for a ten-year period? Whether a farmer is selling weanlings or calf heifers, if that information is out there he or she would be slow to engage. This needs to be teased out. Has the forum identified the budget required to financially support those in the agricultural community whose herds are as good as devalued for ten years because their information is out there? This is one of the key issues for the community.

A previous colleague spoke about exports. There was an issue last year with regard to the licensing and export of calves that came from herds that were restricted for a set timeframe. Have all those issues been cleared up and, if not, what is the situation in respect of exports as we approach the February to May export period, particularly with regard to dairy bull calves? In my part of the world, which exports an awful lot of calves, this is a big issue. There were issues last year in the marts in respect of those calves, and I have spoken to Mr. Sheahan about it previously. Where are we at in regard to that issue?

On the two blood tests, much as this has been welcomed, there is confusion regarding the sensitivity and taking of the results.

Is there a protocol set across the entire Department? Is it up to every individual veterinary inspector in Clonakilty or wherever to make up his or her mind when that goes into the process? What is the protocol, if one exists?

As for the time allocated to move reactor animals from farms, is there a strict protocol in place for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to have an animal moved within so many days? In some situations a month has elapsed before the retesting process was restarted. If one has spring calves then one must get bull calves moved and being obliged to wait a month before animals can be moved is not good. The lack of capacity in factories also is a huge issue. Will a protocol be put in place that will put pressure on the Department to move the animal within a certain number of days? Realistically, keeping a reactor animal on a farm for 30 days is against all of the protocols but that has happened before. I seek the views of the witnesses on the matter.

Mr. Eoin Ryan mentioned the felling of forestry. The information I always have been given by veterinary practitioners regarding my part of the world is that when a forest is felled, the level of TB in the area will dramatically increase. Does that information differ from the research carried out by the Department? Has genuine research been conducted?

I want to discuss information meetings. When a reactor is identified, the Department will call the owner of the animal to discuss issues. How many times does the Department call outside of that circle? Must the Department have a TB breakdown before one gets information? What information circle has the Department put in place? Will the Department put in place an information circle to inform farmers about what they need to do to limit these issues?

I have farmed for 22 years. I have only ever seen a Department official when I have had a TB breakdown, and I have broken down several times. What is the Department's long-term focus? Will it be part of the discussion groups? Will it be part of the single farm payments? Are staff members available? Is the Department able to put the information in the public domain? How can we convey the information?