Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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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.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising this important and relevant issue. As he said, the tuberculosis eradication scheme has been in place in Ireland since the mid-1950s. This and other measures have led to major improvements in tuberculosis levels in the cattle herd. Reactor numbers have fallen significantly in recent years from 44,000 a year in 2008 and 2009 to approximately 15,000 to 17,000 reactors in the past two to three years. In the same period the herd incidence has reduced from 6% to 3.5%, meaning that thousands more farmers are now not affected by the stresses associated with a tuberculosis breakdown. This is a positive development and we are keen to see this trend continue in support of the farming community.

As a member state with bovine tuberculosis, Ireland is required under EU law to have a tuberculosis eradication scheme to facilitate trade. The tuberculosis eradication programme is consistently the largest animal health programme run by the Department. This reflects how acutely aware we are both of the financial and mental stress for a farmer associated with a tuberculosis breakdown. The Department has a range of financial supports available for farmers whose herds experience a tuberculosis breakdown. The Department works very closely with the farming community in ensuring the risk of spread of bovine tuberculosis is curtailed as much as possible in line with the available scientific evidence. For example, earlier this year, County Monaghan was identified as an area with elevated levels of tuberculosis. Through in-depth consultation with stakeholders, a specific tuberculosis control plan for County Monaghan was developed and is being actively implemented.

Bovine tuberculosis is a complex disease and it is not possible to attribute the decline in the incidence of the disease to any single factor. Nevertheless, the main factors involved appear to be the wildlife control policy, improved testing regimes and access to data and technology such as the animal health computer system. It is important to acknowledge that the major reduction in disease levels is thanks to the co-operation of all stakeholders, in particular farmers, private veterinary practitioners and Department officials. We now need to build on the excellent progress that has been made and enhance our efforts further in order to achieve eradication, which we think is an attainable target with all the tools we have at our disposal. The Minister, Deputy Creed, has set the ambitious target of eradicating TB entirely by 2030 and, in order to help achieve this, he recently received approval from the Government to set up a TB stakeholder forum. This forum is being independently chaired by Mr. Michael Cronin and held its first meeting in early September of this year. Encouragingly, it has been broadly welcomed by all members. It is the intention of the forum to provide the Minister with proposals in early 2019 that can achieve eradication of bovine TB by 2030. These proposals will be considered very closely with a view to finalising a TB 2030 eradication strategy shortly thereafter.

I want to reassure the Senator we are firmly committed to eradicating bovine TB. We want to ensure that many more farmers will be saved from the challenges associated with a TB outbreak over the coming years.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State. When he gets the opportunity, there are a couple of issues he might revert to me on. First, while I welcome his comments on the Department, I would like confirmation in regard to whether we are consulting the authorities north of the Border in regard to the level of disease there. Are we working jointly on that, given it is essential we do so? Second, it is important the Department would look into the issue of the time it is taking to remove affected cattle from farms. Several farmers have contacted me on this issue, including today, so I look forward to the Minister of State's response. Perhaps he will look into it directly.

The Minister of State mentioned compensation levels and it is important compensation is paid out as soon as possible. As he rightly acknowledged, it can be a very worrying, sad and stressful time for farmers who discover their herds are affected. We must do all we can to eradicate this disease, which has to be our goal. However, where the disease does break out, we must look after the farmers as quickly as possible.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator. I am working on the assumption Animal Health Ireland is working on an all-island basis in regard to eradication, given the animal health status needs to be all-island based. There is a slightly different control regime in the UK. We have started a vaccination programme in the vaccination areas and this is being rolled out on badgers.

With regard to the length of time for removal, the valuation process needs to be as streamlined as possible. It is certainly an issue which has come up and I come from a county which has consistently had higher levels than the national average, although this is improving. In particular, there is an issue with the speed of paperwork following the identification of a reactor in order to remove the animal and allow the 60-day period to start. These are all very valid points.

The Senator's comments on the compensation process are very relevant. Blood samples are now taken through the interferon-gamma test, which is more sophisticated and has probably picked up extra reactors. In reality, that will wash through the system, with an improved herd health status in due course. From personal experience, I have seen it takes some three years for that to really wash through the system and show benefit at the end of the day.