Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 406: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to Parliamentary Question No. 358 of 2 October 2007, if Ireland has a legal test for tuberculosis; if she has noted the fact that under Bovine Tuberculosis (Attestation of the State and General Provisions) Order 1989 S.I. No. 308 of 1989, article 2 thereof states that a TB reactor means an animal which, by reason of a test or otherwise, a veterinary inspector believes or suspects is affected with bovine tuberculosis or is capable of infecting other animals with bovine tuberculosis and therefore a veterinary inspector can deem an animal a reactor based on a positive result to a test or on their assumption as to infection; if in view of this she will specifically confirm if her Department has a legal test or if it is legally null and void having strict regard to the definition of a TB reactor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23899/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Article 6 of the Bovine Tuberculosis (Attestation of the State and General Provisions) Order 1989 S.I. No. 308 of 1989 as amended provides that the test to be used shall be the intradermal tuberculin comparative test using PPD or HCSM bovine and avian tuberculins or a test specified in an authorisation in writing by the Minister. The results of tuberculin tests carried out by private veterinary practitioners approved by me to perform the tuberculin test or results of the gamma interferon assay which is also authorised by me as an approved test are interpreted by Veterinary Inspectors in my Department's local District Veterinary Offices.

Where taking into consideration test results, epidemiological factors, clinical symptoms and any other information known to the veterinary inspector, he or she believes or suspects an animal is affected with bovine tuberculosis or is capable of infecting other animals with bovine tuberculosis the veterinary inspector will deem that animal a positive reactor, then it will be removed from the herd and slaughtered. I am satisfied that the tests used by my Department to identify reactors are legal.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 407: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 359 of 2 October 2007 on the EC requirement that the test sites on animals necks must be cleansed, if she will provide details or information as to the number of her authorised officers actually cleanse the animals necks immediately before the injection of the tuberculin; the reason it is that the Bovine Tuberculosis (Attestation of the State and General Provisions) Order 1989 S.I. No. 308 of 1989 under article 6(1)([i]f[/i]) thereof only legally requires that the test sites be clipped but fails to make legal provision for the cleansing as well; if she has noted that the actual text of article 6(1)([i]f[/i]) provides that each site at which tuberculin is injected shall immediately before the injection of the tuberculin, be closely clipped over an area which is not less than that enclosed by a circle of 2.5 centimetres diameter; if, in view of the fact that there appears to be no Irish statutory requirement for the authorised officers to actually cleanse the necks, she will outline the actions which she will take to make it a legal requirement and thereby ensure compliance with the relevant community law requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23900/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The annual instructions issued by my Department to all private veterinary practitioners approved by me to perform the tuberculin test state that the selected sites should be clipped (an area not less than 2.5cm in diameter) and debris removed prior to injection. I am satisfied that the removal of debris covers the requirement to cleanse and that the reference to cleansing does not imply or intend to imply the use of disinfectant which, in the event of a positive reaction to the test, could give rise to claims that the animal response was to the disinfectant and not tuberculin.

Veterinary inspectors from my Department inspect the performance of the test regularly and are satisfied that it is done in accordance with EU requirements. My Department also provides training to private veterinary practitioners prior to their approval to test. I am therefore satisfied that the Directive requirement is given legal effect through my Department's procedures and instructions.