Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)

We are good on the TB point. On a broad point on TB, there is no final set of proposals. I have come to the table with 30 actions under a five-point plan. Not all of those must be implemented. As I explained, we must have a layering effect that makes the pieces of the jigsaw come together. I removed some of those measures as part of ongoing negotiations for the second day of talks, in particular those dealing with the removal of compensation if a farmer has carried out, let us say, risky behaviour. I do not want to be in a situation whereby I am taking compensation from farmers. That would be extreme.

We are at 6.3% of herd incidence in the country. The last time we were at that level was in 2003. In that year, there were 28,000 reactors. We are now at the same level of herd incidence but there were almost 42,000 reactors last year. If we do not intervene, that figure could rise to 63,000 by the end of the year. Something has changed significantly in respect of the spread of the disease and the number of reactors.

The testing system is not 100%. If it was, the issue would have been resolved years ago. That is our challenge. The skin test, which detects 80% of infected cattle, gives us very good cover. Coupling it with the gamma interferon test, GIF, or blood testing, can bring that 80% to over 90%. We know there is no one simple test that will detect 100% of cases. We must identify the areas of high risk. We know where the high-risk cohorts are. We know there are three levels of transmission. There is residual transmission from high-risk herds that have significant outbreaks of three or more infected cattle. That cohort is 45% more likely to have a reactor in the next three years. Cattle-to-cattle transmission is a significant contributing factor, as is wildlife. We have a range of options to address those three areas. We are coming together with a set of proposals. I do not have the time to go through the individual measures. Time does not allow for it. The final set-----