Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. The difficulty is that TB and testing cost farmers on average €2,000 per annum. The 60th anniversary of TB testing will take place next year and it is time to reconsider how we carry out those tests.

The slaughter of badgers is very controversial here and in the United Kingdom and I have a suggestion to put to the Minister in that regard. We have a network of veterinary laboratories nationally. Could we examine the testing of badger roadkill, which would not involve the deliberate killing of the animals and might identify additional reservoirs of TB nationally? It might be a more effective approach than the current one. Roadkill testing could complement the current approach.

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