Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

From what the Minister of State said, I feel that he has a grasp of the situation and he understands it. It is good that the licences have been given out and that the Departments are looking at re-establishing the Irish Deer Management Forum. Those actions are important. The Department within which the Minister of State is based must take responsibility for deer when they are associated with a TB problem. I accept that farmers can go so far in terms of licensing and hunting, etc., but when there is a TB problem and it is impacting on the national herd that we hear so much about, it is vital that the Department and the Minister of State step in.I ask the Minister of State to step in and meet the farmers of Kildare and west Wicklow to discuss this matter. A meeting is needed and I really would appreciate if he would agree to meet IFA representatives for Kildare and west Wicklow.