Dr. Damien Barrett:

The Leas-Chathaoirleach raised a number of issues. There is no doubt that in his part of the world we are looking at very high levels of TB. Herd incidences have reached very high levels. The fact the disease has been identified and the numbers he has spoken about indicate high levels of calf to cattle transmission. We cannot say for certain how it was introduced to those herds but when one sees numbers like that there have been large levels of calf to cattle transmission. We would hope the efforts to remove the reactors has removed the focus of infection from those herds. However, it is worth bearing in mind that since 2019, from our analysis of what we call the healthy slaughters, that is slaughters from unrestricted herds, the levels of TB in that population rose 13% year on year between 2019 and 2023. That also increased the transmission to the badgers. There has been a rise. The detection of that rise really kicked in from mid-2023. It seems to have been surging ahead from mid-2023.

To return to the point about whether housing will be the risk, I do not have a crystal ball. I cannot be sure. I would be confident that the level of removal of reactors should reduce that risk substantially. As I say, I do not have a crystal ball but I am very hopeful. I hope those herds have seen their worst.

On the doubtfuls, this has been the interpretation of the test and the standards. Doubtfuls carry a risk. When we mention herd incidence, the herd was not restricted as a doubtful but those animals were at higher risk. What we have been trying to do is encourage people to take those animals out voluntarily.