Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

First, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA, Macra na Feirme and the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, representatives are very welcome. I will ask each of the presidents to answer this specific question first. Have the three farming organisations got common ground and a common approach in eradicating TB, specifically around the ongoing negotiations with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine? Have the three farming organisations met together to try to come up with common ground?

We all know the stress and strain this has brought on many farmers over many years. I really feel sorry for younger farmers who have built up a dairy or beef herd over the last while. The hassle they get from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, if they are unlucky enough to be caught out with TB, impacts on the entire holding, the whole farm and herd and so forth.

Mr. Cullinan outlined the TB costs, which I also read in the IFA statement. It was very interesting to read that the Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales - the UK - do not pay for the annual TB test. At the same time, however, they do not get a similar package to what the Irish farmers get in the hardship scheme that is available. The IFA mentioned this in its statement. I am interested in what the ICMSA and Macra na Feirme feel on that issue.

On the management of the control of wildlife, I believe someone from the ICMSA mentioned deer. I come from Enniscorthy, and deer are a particularly serious issue in County Wicklow. I have been contacted and had plenty of correspondence back and forth with the Department in recent years. It started with the deer problem in the Gorey area of north Wexford. Something is seriously wrong when a person comes down to Enniscorthy and sees a deer in front of him or her on the motorway . The only time we ever saw deer in Enniscorthy was hanging up on somebody's wall. Now, however, it is a common practice to see them on some of the landholdings right across the middle of County Wexford. I met with the IFA in Wexford on this issue, in particular. Many farmers have contacted me directly about this. We must get serious about the management of wildlife, that is, deer and badgers, if we are to eradicate TB. I have asked the Department in the past to do some form of research into the deer problem and it repeated what I believe it said to the ICMSA, that is, it feels it is not a problem. It is a problem. The farmers on the ground are saying it is a problem and an issue. I will be raising this at the next session with the Department.

I read in the ICMSA statement about Coillte not fencing off its holdings. That is another problem. Financial investment in science is also definitely needed if we are to eradicate TB. I therefore ask the three presidents of the organisations to answer my original question. Is there common ground between the three farming organisations? If we are to try to eradicate TB, we need to have common ground between the farming organisations.