Mr. Eddie Punch:

Partnership is required to hit this target. However, that means equal partnership, where the wisdom and understanding of farmers who have suffered this disease for nearly 60 years is given equal respect. They know what is going on.

I refer to the wildlife question. In the past, we saw a step change and improvement once the badger issue was addressed. There had been a continuous curve on TB, which stepped down significantly when badgers were dealt with. We are now experiencing a similar problem with wild deer. As has been mentioned, the same issues crop up in the same counties. Our members are adamant that deer encroaching on land coincides with many black spots. The Department is burying its head in the sand.

The phrase it uses - let us be careful about it - is that there is no evidence, but there is never evidence unless we look for it. The ICSA is stating we should look back at what was done with badgers when important research programmes were undertaken in County Offaly, about which we all know, but, first, we have to establish whether there is a problem and then what would happen if we were to cull and get results. The position is now the same with deer. On testing, only three deer out of 73 were found to be reactors. It is a ridiculously small amount of testing, but it still represent a 4% rate of TB. It is the same as is in the cattle population and we all accept that there is still a problem among the cattle population. The level of TB in deer in County Wicklow is lot higher because of a laissez-faireattitude there. A committee has been set up and I hope some culling will take place, but this is not good enough. There has to be a programme. We do not say we should work away and that people can cull badgers if they like. That will not solve the problem. Is it achievable by 2030? There has to be a major change in mindset to move to a partnership model.

These are small details, but they are significant. We continuously come across members who say they cannot eradicate TB and that they need full herd depopulation. Although, in theory, the Department is in favour of this, in practice it seems to be reluctant to grant it. It is very frustrating for a farmer whose herd is breaking down repeatedly. Of course, it is awful to lose an entire herd, but if a herd continuously goes down for a number of years, the farmer knows that it is not working. If his or her view is that full herd depopulation is the solution, we find it strange that the Department is reticent to agree. There should be a partnership. Farmers should not be told what to do.