Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)

I thank the Minister for his reply. I acknowledge the problem of bovine TB and do not want to take from that particularly serious issue for Irish farming. However, there is a divergence between the research mentioned by the Minister and research which I received from the Irish Wildlife Trust, namely, independent peer reviewed scientific research which shows that culling of badgers has little or no effect on the eradication of TB and that it increased infection levels. It also states that even if all badgers were removed the same levels of TB would remain.

Is it true that 75 staff are engaged in work on badger culling? Also, is a review of this practice due in the coming months?

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