Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach inniu. I thank the Minister of State for his attendance in the House for this important topic.

Recently, many farmers in County Monaghan received correspondence from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine informing them that the ratio of TB reactor animals in the county is a multiple of the national average. This is a concerning development when one bears in mind that less than 18 months ago, Monaghan had one of the lowest rates of TB compared with the rest of the country.It is an awful development in a short period. It is a serious concern for the farming community with regard to herd genetics and farm incomes. As I am sure the Minister of State can relate to, it is a worrying and stressful time for farmers, many of whom have spent many years of hard work and sweat in building a herd to find, perhaps overnight, that that herd can be removed from them. I, for one, coming from a farming background, can relate to the experience of having to undergo a test and for two or three days, one's heart is in one's mouth until one gets the results. It is deeply worrying.

I know that the Department is in communication with the farming community in County Monaghan on a number of issues, the most important of which is ascertaining what is causing this sudden upsurge in the incidence of tuberculosis in their herds. Tuberculosis has been with us for many years and it is frustrating that we do not seem to be able to successfully get a handle on the problem as a country. Despite vaccinations for many years, the problem still seems to be with us. As far as the farmer in County Monaghan is concerned, it is probably as bad now as it was at any time in that period. It is important that the Minister of State outline where exactly his Department is in tackling this problem and identifying the cause and the plans he has in place to eradicate it. I sincerely hope any plan we have will not be isolated to the Twenty-six Counties but will cover the Thirty-two Counties. As I am sure the Minister of State can appreciate, Monaghan is bordered by three Northern counties, Armagh, Fermanagh and Tyrone. We need to consult the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland to identify if there are similar problems north of the Border. I look forward to the Minister of State's comments. Having spoken to farmers, frustration has been voiced at the fact that, in their opinion, it has taken too long to remove the reactor animals from farms. I ask the Minister of State to look into that matter. He might revert to me on it.