Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the details of controls since 1997 for cattle pre-movement tests; and the tests required before sale or movement between herds. [44594/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Question relates to bovine TB.

In accordance with the requirements of EU Directive 64/432/EEC, all eligible bovines that are exported to other member states are subject to a 30-day pre-movement TB test.

For trade within Ireland, the current legal requirement is that an eligible animals may not leave a holding, including for slaughter, unless they have been tested within the previous 12 months and the holding is not under restriction, in which case movement will be in accordance with a permit issued by an officer of my Department.

I should point out that the TB eradication programme places strong emphasis on pre-movement testing as a key husbandry practice to assist herd health protection. Keepers are encouraged to acquire recently tested animals as part of their overall herd health strategy decided with their veterinary practitioners. To facilitate farmers to select such recently tested animals, it is now a legal requirement that the date of the most recent tuberculin test must be displayed on an electronic screen when an animal is presented for sale at marts.

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide a listing of prosecutions and penalties imposed on herd owners for their failure to carry out testing schedules. [44595/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The information sought by the Deputy is not maintained centrally and it would place excessive demands on scarce staff resources in the Department to compile these data.