Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)

To get to the issues that are of most concern to many people in the agricultural community, one of the issues farmers are concerned about is the proposal that a sign be put up at marts where there is a reactor in a herd. This would be there for quite a long time and would restrict farmers in getting a decent price for their animals. That is an issue that needs to be dealt with very sensitively. We do not want farmers to be at a disadvantage because they have had the misfortune of having TB in their herds, something which, in most cases, is not their fault. That needs to be dealt with.

One of the other issues is the restrictions as to where and to whom farmers can sell their cattle. In many cases, the only option they will have is to sell to the finishing lots or the factories. This restricts the market, which will be bad for farmers. We need to understand whether there will be some way of mitigating those disadvantages for farmers. Clarity also needs to be brought to the rates of compensation farmers are going to get under this new regime so that we know exactly where we stand.

On the control of animals at high risk, we understand that there are going to be restrictions and further testing. In effect, it will probably be three years after a clear test that farmers will be back to normal. I would like clarity as to where we stand as regards all of that.

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