Mr. Michael Sheahan:

Possums are not a protected species so they can be shot without having to worry about the Bern convention. New Zealand has similar issues to ours. Senator Mulherin asked whether vaccinating badgers is physically a big job. Yes, we have to physically catch them and inject them. It is a big job but we have a lot of information in respect of badgers. At this stage we know where every single sett is in the country. We have a map and the X and Y co-ordinates of every sett. When it comes to culling, we have teams of departmental staff and farm relief staff in place around the country. We have a well-oiled machine in place in respect of culling badgers.

The process of vaccinating badgers is similar. They are captured, but they are vaccinated, microchipped and released rather than shot. When they have been vaccinated, the vaccine works well. Essentially, they are protected for life. It does not have to be repeated.

Senator Daly asked a good question. He asked why, when one animal in a herd gets TB, they do not all get it. I might ask my colleague, Mr. Breslin, to explain the concept of genetic resistance. In certain animals, the infection gets walled off within a certain part of the body and does not spread. It may stay latent for some years.