Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is another side to this debate to which Deputy Daly is blind-sided. It relates to the extraordinary hardship that a TB outbreak brings to the farming community. I know this because I represent the people affected in my constituency. When a dairy, beef or suckler herd is wiped out by TB, farmers, in conjunction with the Department, are most keen to find out whether it was an issue relating to contiguous herds or whether the source was elsewhere. Often, the finger is pointed conclusively at badger sets.

We are not operating in isolation on this matter. We are working with the UK authorities to find out the most effect way to deal with this. We are cognisant of the legislation that gives badgers protected status. However, in the order of priority, I believe the livelihood of farmers and their herds take precedence. We are doing everything possible to work to a situation whereby we can implement a vaccination programme. However, there is no vaccine. I suspect the evidence quoted by Deputy Daly to the effect that there is no link between badgers and TB is not shared by the UK authorities. In fact, I believe there is considerable evidence to the contrary.

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