Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm the number of bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis reactors that have been taken out under section 20 of the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 since its inception; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in failing to take out bovine TB and brucellosis reactors under section 20 of the 1966 Act he is committing a criminal offence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7635/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Bovine Brucellosis and TB reactors are removed under Section 20 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966 (as amended). This Act makes general provision for the control and eradication of disease, the categories of animals and classes of diseases to which the Act applies. Section 20 of the Act empowers the Minister to make Ministerial Orders for specified purposes and the nature of offences that may be prosecuted. The Bovine Tuberculosis (Attestation of the State and General Provisions) Order, 1989 was made under powers conferred by several sections, including Section 20, of the Act. The Order provides for, inter alia, the prohibition of tuberculosis testing without Department permission, the type of test to be used, the tagging of reactors, the removal, movement, control and slaughter of reactors. Similarly the Brucellosis in Cattle (General Provisions) Order, 1991 as amended was made under powers conferred by the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966, including section 20, and contains similar provisions to the TB Order.

The information relating to the total number of animals removed as TB and Brucellosis reactors under the Act is not readily available. However, with regard to bovine TB, the number of reactors removed in selected years since 1960 is set out in the following Table. I am pleased to be able to say that the TB situation has been steadily improving over the past 10 years or so as evidenced by the significant reduction in disease levels over the past decade. For example, herd incidence has fallen from 7.5% in 2000 to 4.21% last year and reactor numbers in 2012 were, at 18,476, the lowest recorded since the commencement of the programme in the 1950s. I am hopeful that the incidence of TB can be maintained at or below these levels. Ireland is free of Brucellosis in sheep, pigs and cattle.

TABLE 1.