Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to begin by thanking the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this vitally important issue for discussion. I also wish Deputy Heydon well in his new role, which is now more important than ever to rural Ireland and the rural economy.

As the Minister of State is aware, the proposal to implement a new TB herd history risk statement and report system has generated a furious response from farmers throughout the State. I am particularly aware of this reaction in Laois-Offaly and among farming organisations.

The proposal is totally unacceptable. It is my understanding that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine took action on this issue before it was agreed by the TB forum. However, the report was meant to have been agreed by the TB forum before any action was to be taken. There is great frustration and anger over that situation. There is significant concern that the new system has the potential to seriously devalue herds, with no protection afforded to farmers.

In a reply to a parliamentary question I recently tabled on this matter, the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, stated that the reports present TB risk information in a user-friendly, detailed and practical form. He also made the point that the development of herd risk categories that are simple, clear and convey sufficient information enables farmers to make the decisions appropriate to their situation. However, there is nothing simple or clear about how this matter has been handled to date. Rather, there is, as I stated, much frustration. It is not acceptable and I hope this system will be taken off the table. It is only right that that be done.

If there was consensus that this was an appropriate way to handle the TB issue and the whole situation, it would not have generated the level of outright hostility that has ensued. Mr. Pat Farrell, chairman of the IFA animal health committee, stated that the letters are a ridiculous and weak response to the dramatic deterioration in TB levels in herds. Farmers are being told in these letters that if they bring unsold animals back from the mart, they cannot consider the herd to be a closed herd. However, as the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, ICSA, has pointed out, we have not seen any scientific research to underpin that stipulation. What is worse is that it will be seen as an assault on the mart trade.

It is clear that farmers will continue to bear the disproportionate financial burden for the eradication of TB even though we know that the real area of difficulty in terms of the source of the disease is within the wildlife population, specifically the badger population. I am aware that there are EU provisions such as the habitats directive which protect badgers and other wildlife, but there are derogations to the provisions on species protections which are permitted in circumstances involving the prevention of serious damage to livestock. We need to give these derogations far more serious attention because there is clearly a lack of balance between production of herds and the unwillingness to engage in proportionate levels of badger culling where required. Only this week, I received many reports from my own county of Offaly where there are issues of TB and livestock have been affected.

More ongoing assessments should be carried out by the Department in areas where there is an ongoing problem with TB. There should then be a targeted response and follow-up, which could involve the culling of badgers or deer in these areas.

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