Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)

I sincerely thank Deputy Danny Healy-Rae for raising this very important issue for farmers in Kerry and throughout the country. I have the exact same concerns with regard to badgers and deer and their role in spreading this disease.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in bovine TB, with levels nationally causing an economic and emotional burden for farmers, their families and rural communities. Bovine TB is a difficult disease to control and eradicate but it can and has been done in other countries. If we do not do something now, it will continue to affect more farmers and their families throughout rural Ireland.

In 2024, more than 6,000 farming families were affected by a TB outbreak and the herd incidence was over 6%. As of 23 November 2025, on a 12-month basis, herd incidence has fallen below 6% nationally and is 5.9% in Kerry, which, of course, is still too much. One of the key priorities of the Minister, Deputy Heydon, has been to address and review the bovine TB programme to tackle disease levels. Over time, our understanding of TB has increased and evolved, and research has shown our current approach to addressing disease levels on its own is not enough to control and ultimately eradicate TB. The Deputy is correct.

Earlier this year, the Minister had extensive engagement with stakeholders and farming organisations to agree measures to tackle the current disease levels. In June, he received the support of the Government to introduce additional measures to the bovine TB programme. On 9 September, the Minister launched the bovine TB action plan, addressing bovine TB in Ireland. There are five measures and 30 actions underpinned by scientific research, evidence and veterinary expertise in this action plan. These are to support herds free of bovine TB to remain free; reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bovine TB, which is what the Deputy spoke about; detect and eliminate bovine TB infection as early as possible in herds with bovine TB breakdown and avoid future breakdowns; help farmers to improve all areas of on-farm biosecurity; and reduce the impact of known high-risk animals in spreading bovine TB, including badgers and deer.

Bovine TB is not a new challenge for farmers, their families and rural communities but engagement with farmers and all stakeholders tells me there is an appetite for change to address the current disease levels. However, these changes will need to be supported and implemented by everyone to have an effect on the current disease levels throughout the country. This action plan is one of the single largest resets of the TB programme since its inception. The Minister and I believe these changes are vital to protect farming families throughout the country from TB.

The Minister is committed to ongoing constructive engagement with all farmers and stakeholders as it is vital that all involved in the programme continue to work together to protect farmers from TB. The Minister and I believe that by continuing to build our TB policies on a foundation of science and veterinary-based advice, which farmers can act on to reduce risks, we can together focus our efforts to protect cattle from infection and farmers from the stress of uncertainty and costs of a breakdown.

I acknowledge that the Deputy's statement that the way people are compensated is unsustainable is correct. I have grave concerns about this myself. Based on current prices, the compensation does not reflect what cattle make at the mart. If we take cases like that of our neighbour Mikey Joe, this puts people at an awful and unfair financial disadvantage when they have an outbreak. That is a matter of grave concern to the Deputy. I thank him again on behalf of the Department for raising it on behalf of farmers in Kerry and throughout the country.

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