Mr. Tom?s Bourke:

I thank Senator Daly for the question. The answer is straightforward in regard to whether the forum is working. The current forum and its structure are certainly a significant improvement on the forum that was imposed on farmers representatives and stakeholders in the initial phases, where, effectively, it was set up as a rubber-stamp committee where we would be lectured by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the way forward, and that is the policy that would then be adopted. It culminated in the debacle that was the blacklisting of farmers with herd categorisation letters. Fortunately, since then, the newly established forum - which I will call it, even though, technically, it was not newly established but was revisited with regard to its structure - provides for far better direct engagement with farmers.

Where we are directly involved is in two groups, one of which deals with the implementation of policy. One of the positive outcomes of that has been an agreed application of the EU animal health law requirement and the pre- and post-movement test, which could have been extremely disruptive to farmers and to the trading of animals, and certainly anti-competitive. The discussions through the implementation group, IG, with the Department and the farm organisations reached a fairly reasonable compromise on how this could be implemented to minimise any impact on farmers.

In the context of the financial working group, which will always be the most contentious one, its effectiveness and how it is working or not rests very much on the reaction of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Minister in regard to the funding proposals for the programme going forward. Proposals have been put to the group and discussions have taken place. From our perspective, we are in agreement on progressing those discussions provided the good faith shown by farmers in agreeing to consider increasing potential contributions for direct supports to farmers is reciprocated by the Department putting in place the funding and resources necessary for the wildlife programme and to pay for this additional legislatively required EU test, which is for minimal exposure.

To conclude, there were certainly huge problems with the TB forum. We have a far better structure currently but let us see where it takes us over the coming weeks.