Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

Everybody is committed to the eradication of TB. It is vitally important, particularly for suckler producers in the west who sell at the end of the year. As a farmer who had reactors on the farm last year, I understand the concerns in this regard and know full well the damage they can do. I heard the Minister speaking about the approach that is taken if there are some fields of barley, forestry or silage fields between contiguous herds. Such matters have to be taken into consideration. Flexibility is vitally important. The rules of the scheme, as they were being implemented in recent months, had to be followed. Farmers and veterinary officers throughout the country want to get the best results. There has been significant co-operation on the TB scheme between farmers and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food over 50 or 60 years. A little common sense is needed at this time, however. The worst affected farmers are those who have had no TB showing up in their own tests - they may have had generations of clear tests - but cannot sell their weanlings because of the test results in a contiguous herd. I appeal to the Minister to make sure a common sense approach is taken when departmental officials are discussing these matters with farmers.

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