Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to resume discussion on Eradication of Bovine TB

The meeting at 5.30pm in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House will hear from representatives of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA); Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA); Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA); Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA); and Macra na Feirme.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Jackie Cahill said: “From a historic low instance of Bovine TB cases in 2016, Ireland has seen the number of cases increase annually since, to the point that we had the highest number of cases in the EU in 2020. At the same time the cost of the eradication programme to both the State and the farm sector is increasing, and is projected to cost a total of €1 billion up to 2030 if progress is not made with the eradication of Bovine TB. We also face the prospect of decreasing EU funding towards the scheme if the number of cases continues to rise. The Committee looks forward to hearing the views of the farming sector stakeholders on the eradication programme and related matters.”

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 4 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.