Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

On numerous occasions in the past ten weeks I have asked the Leader to intercede on behalf of members of the farming community – particularly those who live on the west coast – who have suffered severe losses as a result of the ongoing strike. It is difficult to surmise the Department's position in regard to this matter and a serious situation has developed. We have seen senior officers in the veterinary section defying the Minister's wishes regarding the provision of permits for farmers who want to move diseased herds off the farm, or sell healthy livestock.

It is essential that the Leader should request the Minister to attend the House to indicate what he intends to do about this ongoing problem. Farmers in the west have suffered serious losses, particularly in the spring and now in the summer when harvesting has become very difficult because cattle have to be retained on the farm. As you are aware, a Chathaoirligh, heretofore if a farmer kept a diseased animal on his or her farm for one day, he or she would have been liable to imprisonment. Now, however, diseased animals are being held on farms in the west with the blessing of the Minister. I am asking the Leader to intercede as a matter of urgency to request the Minister to attend the House for a debate on this issue.