Ms Caroline O'Keeffe:

I thank the Chair and committee members for the opportunity to appear before the committee to discuss the eradication of bovine TB. I acknowledge the continued support of the Chair and this committee of Macra na Feirme, and recognise that significant changes are needed in order to address the challenges that currently exist within the sector. I am the national chairperson of Macra na Feirme. I am joined this evening by our agricultural affairs chair, Dr. Liam Hanrahan, and the deputy CEO of Macra, Mr. Derrie Dillon.

The key principles of the eradication programme are outlined in our opening statement along with the TB Forum's further strategy measures covering 2023-25. The TB Forum has for some time called for the establishment of a deer management forum and in recent months the deer management strategy group was established by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Macra is adamant that a critical piece of work for the group must be to establish a robust framework for dealing with deer populations at a local and regional level. With the support of research and science it is crucial that concrete actions are agreed and implemented to ensure that deer populations are managed and controlled in order that the TB eradication programme is not undermined.

One of the most significant changes relates to the EU animal health law requirement for a pre- and post-movement test for all cows and male cattle over-36 months that have not been tested in the past 6 months and are moving from herds that have not been tested in the past 6 months. The outstanding issue for Macra is the payment for the test which is required, as outlined, by the EU animal health law change. Since the beginning of discussions about this additional testing requirement, Macra has been clear that farmers should not have to pay for this test. It has been agreed with the Government and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine that farmers will only pay for one herd-test a year and at no shorter interval than ten months. Any other legally required test must be paid for by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Macra has consistently highlighted the need for a fully resourced, fully funded wildlife control programme. Wildlife, and particularly badgers, have been identified as the main vectors of disease transmission. However, the resources necessary to implement the wildlife programme in a more effective manner must be provided. Mapping setts does not address the TB issue. The timely application of the capture and removal programme addresses TB. The implementation of an effective wildlife control programme is fundamental to achieving the objective of TB eradication. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has proposed to invest more than €3 million of additional funding in the programme which will include the provision of an additional 26 Farm Relief Service, FRS, operatives. However, these new positions need to be filled alongside existing vacancies. They must also be targeted at areas where the incidence rate is highest and where herd breakdowns are occurring most frequently and at large scales.

Macra welcomes the investment in the vaccination programme to date but notes that costs per unit have increased by 14% while vaccination levels have not increased. Greater investment is needed as the transmission rate of unvaccinated badgers is 1.2 compared to 0.5 in vaccinated badgers. Macra would like to see further investment in vaccination application but also in research on the long-term effectiveness of the vaccine.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has put forward proposals for higher rates in the income supplement and depopulation grant schemes, with eligibility commencing on the date of restriction and paid for partial months restricted. The proposal also includes a maximum payment for 200 animals in the scheme and for a maximum period of 12 months where the herd has been allowed to purchase animals. These rates must be based on an agreed methodology that establishes the actual level of loss incurred and the limits proposed must be reconsidered. It is proposed that farmers will fund this through greater contributions in the levies. Macra has agreed to discuss the proposal with our members on the basis that all additional levies are secured for the payment of supports directly to farmers; the Department pays for the pre- and post-movement tests required under the EU animal health law; the funding for levies is retrospective so that only what is spent in 2021 will be collected in 2022; that the wildlife programme is fully funded and resourced; and enhanced funding and investment is provided for whole-genome sequencing technology and its roll-out.

The promise offered by a large scale roll-out of whole-genome sequencing technology offers a substantial opportunity for the success of the eradication programme. If we build a conclusive map of setts and relationships between breakdowns, it will offer greater understanding. It will also afford the ability to identify risk patterns, risk-mitigation strategies and the transmissions rate in certain areas and of certain strains. Macra would like to see enhanced investment and support. The database for storage and capture must also be established and real time data provided to the farmer.

Macra’s submission outlines the importance of a comprehensive and fully resourced wildlife control and vaccination programme, coupled with the new opportunity that whole-genome sequencing presents and a robust framework for dealing with deer populations at local and regional level under a new deer management forum. The further strategy measures for 2023–25 recommended by the TB Forum are set out in our written submission, but funding remains a critical element to the successful execution of any programme. Macra has outlined where financial commitment is required by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to achieve the objective of the TB Forum, namely, to eradicate TB.