Mr. Pat McCormack:

I will take it that the committee has read our submission. I will hit some of the high points in order not to run out of time. I thank the committee on my behalf and on behalf of Des Morrison, our livestock chairman, and Paul Smyth, our policy officer, for the opportunity to discuss the TB issue. If you were born when the TB eradication programme started, you would be a 70-year-old today. You would be retired. There are many people who made a livelihood from the TB programme. It is hard to be enthusiastic when you have given 11 or 12 years of that 70-year period coming to the Oireachtas to discuss TB.

Figures deteriorated between 2016 and 2020, which is disappointing to say the least. In the past 12 months alone, our organisation has been involved in up to 30 strategic meetings regarding the eradication of TB. There is a scientific working group, a financial working group and an implementation group. Significant resources are required within that, be they from the Department or the farming organisations. As a farmer on the ground, it is questionable whether we are seeing the results of that. We need to reduce the spread from cattle to cattle.

A new target-based policy proposed by the Department will specifically address the risk of recurrence in herds and target herds experiencing restrictions significantly more than the average, as well as targeting inconclusive animals and increasing the emphasis on biosecurity. The EU changed the goalposts with its €4 million contribution where it requires a pre- or post-movement test on animals that are either from a herd or have not been tested within the past six months. That is going to be a huge additional cost on top of the figures already mentioned today for farm families. It makes the day-to-day running of the trade of livestock significantly complex. The ICMSA view is very clear; there needs to be a pre-movement test only. We need to reduce the risk of spreading TB rather than affording it the opportunity. All animals in the ring have a similar status. Targeting the inconclusives with blood tests is significant. We have long argued in favour of the removal of all inconclusive animals, with appropriate compensation for that.

From a biosecurity perspective, there should be a more targeted approach to biosecurity whereby once a TB reactor is identified in an area, farmers and the Department get to the root of it, if we are to eradicate it. Tackling badgers is another factor, and the vaccination programme needs further enhancement. The removal of badgers where necessary should also happen. We must also address the new reality in rural Ireland that deer play a role in spreading TB. I echo the sentiments of Ms Mooney from County Wicklow. It is a huge issue in that county. There are other counties on the west coast with significant deer issues. The Department must recognise the role of deer in TB transmission. A wildlife management plan should be drawn up in relation to each outbreak. There is huge frustration among farmers that the wildlife issue is not being addressed significantly. There is additional funding for the wildlife unit but, as already mentioned, some of those roles are vacant. We need resources as well as funding. Those positions need to be filled.

Communication is a major issue for farm families suffering from TB outbreaks. The lack of continuity in the persons they speak to is an issue and has been over the past decade and beyond. There is approximately €55 million to €57 million in the area, but there is €35 million from farmers while the EU funding equates to €4 million.

We need a proper level of compensation for farm families because when there is an outbreak of TB, the impact is more than just financial. Emotional and historic value is associated with these animals and major personal trauma affects families as well as the herds. It is fair to say that, at times, the value of the animal is not a reflection of the true financial cost. There are huge consequential losses in the years following an outbreak of TB and that needs to be borne in mind. There are many stresses including the stress from the perspective of a dairy farmer, of having to maintain calves on the farm after an outbreak.