Mr. Joe O'Flaherty:

I will first address a number of questions related to the points members made on bovine viral diarrhea, BVD, and the retention of persistently infected animals on farms. It is correct that the figures available to us on the database, which is operated by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, ICBF, show that the average level of retention on farms is 50%. I will ask Mr. Graham to comment on this shortly. It is also correct that this profile varies over time. For example, in the earlier weeks of the year, the level of deaths or the number of removals of animals from farms is higher, which means the percentage of retentions is lower. The figure tails off as one approaches the current period. Nonetheless, it is correct that the average retention rate for persistently infected animals identified since the start of the year is 50%. These animals are undoubtedly a biosecurity risk to the farms in question and potentially neighbouring farms. The primary risk, however, is in the trading of these animals. Once an animal has been identified as a persistently infected, it cannot move to another farm, either through marts or by means of a private sale. While that risk at least has been eliminated, some significant risks remain. For example, there is a risk that the animal will transmit the infection to cattle on a neighbouring farm, perhaps across a ditch. There is also a risk to the farmer because the disease is infectious and the organism can be transmitted on the clothing or person of the operator.

We only became aware of the overall figure in recent weeks through interrogation of the database. We have referred the issue to our technical working group which will produce an opinion on the potential impact of this on our programme timelines and objectives. We await the group's opinion with considerable interest.

On the question raised by members on the potential for compensation to address this matter, as chairman of the implementation group, it is safe to say I reflect the overall view of the group when I state we would welcome some degree of targeted compensation as a means of stimulating farmers who are inclined to retain infected animals to get rid of them promptly. I should balance that comment by noting that this disease primarily causes harm to the farmer who has the disease. As such, the benefits of controlling or eradicating the disease largely accrue to the farmer. There is, therefore, a balance to be struck between, on the one hand, the farmer taking control of an issue which damages his or her business and, on the other, the potential for the State to provide some sort of limited financial support which may encourage farmers to do the right thing. The farm organisations have put a proposal to the Minister in respect of providing a targeted support and I understand the Department is considering the proposal. I do not know the outcome of its deliberations at this point.

With the permission of the Chairman, I will ask him Mr. Graham, our expert on BVD and IBR, to comment.