asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will take immediate steps to establish Donegal as a tuberculin-tested area in view of the fact that a number of ports in Great Britain to which Donegal cattle are at present being shipped may cease to accept cattle other than tuberculin-tested animals, and in view of the likelihood that Six-County areas bordering County Donegal may shortly ban the importation of non-tuberculin-tested animals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tuberculin-Tested Cattle.
Mr. Walsh
I cannot accept as correct the assumptions on which the Deputy bases his question but I may say that stockowners in County Donegal will be able to avail themselves of a scheme which it is hoped will be introduced during the coming year for the elimination of tuberculous cattle in the country generally.
Whether the assumptions which are referred to in the reply to the question are correct or not, does the Minister agree that if eradication areas, as I think they are designated, are set up in any or all of those counties which are part of the Six Counties and which also are bordering on Donegal, cattle producers and farmers in the area will suffer severe hardship and possibly loss in the marketing of their cattle, due to the fact that they will not be able to put them across to the Six Counties as hitherto? In view of that hardship, and since an area is about to be established as a T.T. area or as an attested area in the Twenty-Six Counties, surely Donegal is economically and geographically the centre to begin with?
Mr. Walsh
I have explained to theDeputy that the farmers of Donegal can avail themselves of the scheme which it is hoped to introduce during the coming year for the elimination of T.B. in cattle in the country generally.
Can the Minister say whether or not it is the intention of the Government soon or at a future date to set up such an area anywhere in the country?
Mr. Walsh
All over the country.
Is there any particular area to be set up as an eradication area for the supply to other parts of the country of T.T. stock?