Mr. Eoin Ryan:

It is a concern that our colleagues in Northern Ireland are facing a significant challenge and the farmers there have a serious problem with TB that is affecting them every day. The levels of TB in Northern Ireland are higher than those in the South at just shy of 10%, while the level in the South is 3.4%. The main difference between the programmes is that we have had a badger and wildlife control programme and we have been culling badgers and now we are back saving badgers. For social and political reasons, perhaps the culling policy was not acceptable in Northern Ireland and they were not able to go down that path. We have close relationships and we work closely with our northern colleagues. As Mr. Sheahan mentioned, yesterday we had a full day meeting with our northern colleagues, whom we meet regularly and with whom we work closely. We co-ordinate on issues such as outbreaks near the Border and we are continually working to try to improve communication on cross-Border issues. They have a programme based on the European regulations the same as ours, so it is closely aligned to our programme.

There are some small differences in how it is applied but, substantially, it is more or less similar other than the fact that they do not have a wildlife control programme. Also, they carry out gamma blood testing, but it is not compulsory to remove positives, so if one has an animal that tests positive on the gamma blood test, one does not have to remove it. Recently, a substantial review was carried out of the TB strategy in Northern Ireland. An expert stakeholder group was set up and it reviewed the programme and came up with some proposals. There is now a TB eradication partnership. Mr. Breslin and I were invited to speak about our programme. The entire strategy in Northern Ireland is being reviewed and a key element of that is to bring in badger controls, meaning wildlife removals, and they also want to carry out vaccination, where appropriate. In addition, they want to take steps to deal with the level of compensation. There is a different context in Northern Ireland and they feel the level of compensation is too high. The Northern Ireland Audit Office carried out at review recently along the same lines and it found that it was not good value for money in terms of state expenditure.

Their levels of TB have crept upwards but they have stabilised in the past year or so. There is a significant challenge in that regard, as it is for us, given that we share a border and there is trade. Any export animals have to be tested before they can be exported, so that is less of a concern, but wildlife do not respect borders and it is something we are conscious of. We are always keen to work with, collaborate with and support our Northern colleagues where we can. We regularly have technical visits whereby their teams come down here or our teams go up there. We are keen to assist them in any way we can and, similarly with them. We have had good assistance from them where necessary or appropriate. I agree that it is not a good situation and they would be the first to acknowledge that. The fact that they have had these significant reviews in recent months saying they need to change things speaks to that. Unfortunately, there are political problems up there. They do not have a Minister or a devolved Government in place. Substantial decisions cannot be taken until those structures are in place, so it is challenge.