Mr. Hugh Farrell:

I thank the Chair for giving the ICSA the opportunity to express its views on the eradication of TB.

As members will be aware, four years have passed since we started the TB Forum and the challenge has been to try to find solutions to a problem that has persisted for almost 70 years. The ICSA operates on the principle that farmers must be treated fairly and that the burden of TB eradication should be spread evenly and not dealt with only by the farming community. Since our last meeting with this committee, we have seen some progress. A lot of work is now being done at sub-committee level rather than at the TB Forum itself. There were some interruptions with staff changes in the Department and due to Covid-19 that have delayed the process this year. As a general comment, we are frustrated by the demand of the Department for more concessions on the farmer side while there has been much resistance to ensuring that the programme is fair to farmers on the compensation side.

As we outlined in our submission, it is true that costs of the programme have increased but that is inevitable against a background of dairy expansion. It is also affected by inflation in staff and other costs. EU funding is being wound down so a difficult debate on how to fund it going forward is taking place. The key issue is that we are making progress in defeating TB as we can see from the slow drop. If we look at the data on the number of reactors, we see a drop between October 2021 and October 2022 to 21,183 and a marginal decrease of 4,324 herds restricted. On the expenditure side, there is also a marginal decrease for the first three quarters of 2022. It is true that the on-farm market valuation is about 3% higher but when you consider the significant increase in livestock values in 2022, it could be argued that it is not relevant given the increase we are seeing in market sales.

In recent months, the dominant issue has been the additional testing burden that is being pushed under the EU animal health law. As it stands, the Department's position is that from next February cattle over 36 months must be from a herd that was tested in the previous six months before they are traded in a mart or they will have to be either pre- or post-movement tested. This lacks a lot of clarity for buyers. At the moment we consider it a fundamental principle that this extra testing burden should be paid for by the Department. We have repeatedly insisted at the TB financial working group that we cannot agree to anything until we get a resolution of this issue that is delaying the process. It is unfortunate that the Department is taking an intransigent position on this. The Department states on the one hand that it will affect very low numbers of stock and on the other hand, that the cost would be too much for the Department.

Those two statements cannot both be true, they are not making up. The ICSA, has not taken an unreasonable view on this. It is a fundamental principle that farmers would only pay for one herd test a year, which has been the basis on which the whole programme was changed many years ago. Prior to that, farmers did not pay for the herd test at all as stated by others in this room.

There is also a significant discussion in relation to the compensation schemes on farms. We have had some progress. A lot of negotiations have taken place regarding the critical role of independent valuers and the need to ensure that valuers are not deterred by the Department from giving a proper valuation for all stock. Our view was that if the Department and the farmer is happy, it is working for both parties. Regarding on-farm market valuation, I have been very determined to achieve fair play for breeders of top-quality livestock, particularly pedigrees. This is down to first-hand experience in dealing with tuberculosis, TB, outbreaks and I have seen a lot of farmers lose in excess of €10,000 on top of the ceiling price where there were pedigree herds breaking down. It is devastating to see the €3,000 ceiling, which is not practical, and €5,000 for a bull. We have been offered €5,000 for pedigree cows but this is not adequate and we need it for bulls because if three or maybe more bulls in a farm go down, all animals are affected.