Mr. John Keane:

I understand committee members have read our opening statement, so I will not reiterate much of what was contained in that. As for where we are in our eradication of bovine TB, we have engaged in a programme since 1954 and there has been progress over recent decades in respect of the eradication and the reduction of numbers, in terms of both the incidence rate and the prevalence at which TB occurs. From the point of view of the role of the TB forum, which was established in recent years, progress has been made in developing both the science base on which the eradication programme is built and the knowledge and education base among the farming community.

The pressures among farmers and farm families as a result of a breakdown cannot be underestimated. The breakdown of a family farm affects not only the farmer but also the entire enterprise and the family holding. The role farmers have played over recent decades in the eradication of the programme and the role farmers will play into the future will continue to be one of supportive engagement, seeking the ultimate eradication of the programme. Nevertheless, the support of farmers from a financial point of view and the integration of farmers' viewpoints in developing any policies that will ultimately affect the eradication of the programme must be at the core of what is determined to be a success as we move forward. Farmers have continually engaged in biosecurity measures to improve, enhance and reduce their risk from the spread of bovine tuberculosis.

It is worth noting also the role wildlife has to play and the further research and development that is needed, in respect of both the interaction of the badger population and improved knowledge and research of the relationship deer have to play in the transmission of the disease at farm level. Over recent years, the roll-out of the vaccination programme to the badger population in areas that have previously been culled and where the disease is said to be under control has merited some rewards, but there must be ongoing research and continued investigation in respect of the merits and the occurrence rate, the frequency rate and the continued effectiveness of the vaccine in those badger populations. As for the role of deer, particularly in high-density volumes in Wicklow among other places, research has shown that in high density and high volumes of deer, badger and bovine animals, the isolates of the samples of the species and also the strains of TB that have been found are similar to those found in bovine animals and badgers and among the deer population. Research presented to the TB forum in recent months has also highlighted this as a possible pool of infection.

With all that in mind, the development of science and the research will bring about the change that is necessary for the eradication of TB. We must look to some of our partners throughout the world who have successfully eradicated TB and to states such as New Zealand, which is down to fewer than 40 herds that have become infected with TB. It is a science-based model of research. We look at the area of whole-genome sequencing, which the TB forum has been briefed about this week and which it has also discussed in previous sessions, and the role that has to play to identify the species, the strain and isolate the strain has come from.

Essentially, it identifies the occurrence, the species it occurred in and whether the transmission was from bovine to badger or from badger back to bovine. Macra na Feirme feels that it is essential that the studies that have been conducted in the UK are carried out in the Republic of Ireland for us to gain further insight into the transmissibility of the disease.

We must also be cognisant of the need for a consistent and sustainable funding model into the future. The TB forum has consistently heard that a funding model must deliver for eradication but also for farmers. The farmers' contribution in recent years has been around €34 million with decreasing funding from the EU and the Irish taxpayer increasing the funding to an overall funding of €105 million in 2021. That must continue if we are serious about eradication of the disease.

Macra na Feirme feels there must be front-loading of investment in funding to eradicate the disease. We feel that from a farmer's perspective, our labour is not included in the costs incurred. It must be considered that we have young farmers who are highly educated and highly qualified with level 6, 7 and 8 degrees and qualifications. If we are serious, we must consider as significant the labour expense and labour wage and associated qualifications and then the subsistence provided must reflect the quality of education among the farming community.

We welcome any questions. Macra na Feirme's goal is held in common with that of the TB forum and all the other stakeholders; the eradication of disease is something we all strive for. Continued support, engagement, education and investment in research is how will achieve that by 2030 and beyond.