Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Irrespective of whoever prepared the script, I know something of the matter. As someone who inherited a farm myself, I know that the first thing one must do is to transfer the herd number. It would be grossly unfair to select one person and to say that because a farm was transferred the family should be relieved of their responsibilities and duties. The responsibility lies with the herd keeper, be it an old person or a young person. The herd is monitored on the basis of the herd number. Senator Conway is not correct in the assertion he made about the transfer of the farm from father to son. The same animals are at issue but under a different herd keeper. The disease must be monitored and checked. One could not accept the argument made by Senator Conway that the family in question should be exempt from the scheme because the farm has passed from father to son. That would be silly and wrong.