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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Dec 1956

Vol. 160 No. 14

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bovine Tuberculosis Attestation Service.

asked the Minister for Agriculture whether it has been brought to his notice that attestation in respect of bovine tuberculosis has advanced so far in Scotland as to have effected a considerable reduction in the farming area of that country into which Irish non-attested cattle may be imported; that this position affects in a special way the sale of cattle in the congested districts of Connaught, notwithstanding the general freedom from the disease in those districts; and, if so, if he will extend the attestation service to those districts in the near future.

I am aware that under the British area eradication plan for bovine tuberculosis eradication considerable progress has been made and that the attested areas in Scotland now cover approximately half that country, mainly the western and southern regions. This means that Irish cattle cannot be imported into those areas unless certified free from tuberculosis.

In the recent modification of the eradication measures in this country, the special circumstances of Connaught and other western areas were taken into consideration. As was announced, it is intended that compulsory clearance measures will start in County Sligo next year with a view to the declaration of that county as an accredited area in the following year. The remaining counties of Connaught have been scheduled as pre-intensive areas and will be given priority in the eradication programme.

I would also like to draw attention to the fact that the recently introduced accredited herds scheme is available to herd-owners in all areas. Cattle from accredited herds will, subject to suitable transport, be accepted without further test into attested areas and herds in Britain.

Could the Minister say when this accredited system will come into operation or is it in operation at present?

Has the Minister had brought to his notice the fact that the restriction on non-attested cattle has seriously affected the availability of suitable cattle from Connaught for the Scottish market?

I do not really grasp the Deputy's supplementary. If the Deputy has a question I shall be happy to answer it.

Within the last fortnight a buyer of cattle from the Connaught conjested districts has told me personally that the availability of suitable cattle—"suitable" being, of course, governed by the attestation progress in Scotland—is growing less and less as time goes on.

That is a nice, cheerful, optimistic observation that I would expect a friend of the Deputy's to make at a rural cattle fair. He is not in the cattle trading business for the love of his neighbour's lovely blue eyes and he is well able to go and buy what he wants. The attested ones can go to the attested areas in Scotland and the non-attested can be sold wherever he ordinarily trades. The Deputy and I are familiar with the type of trader who goes into a fair wanting to buy cheap cattle and tells people that their cattle are not fit for export and that he will give them a cheap price for them if he wants to throw them away. My advice to the Deputy is——

This is a smoke-room conversation and has nothing to do with the question.

I am advising the Deputy as to how he should answer the cattle jobber who gives him this dramatic information. My advice to him would be to tell him that he knows well that he is not in the business for the love of his neighbour's lovely blue eyes, to go out and do his business and that even if he is not fit to buy the cattle, there are plenty of others who will.

Accepting the Minister's version of the story does that detract in any way from the fact as stated by this reputable person to me? He is none the less reputable because he is a friend of mine.

Dúirt fear liom go nduirt fear leis.

That is the suggestion the Minister wants to throw out.

Major de Valera

Dúirt an feirmheoir go ndúirt an tAire leis. Sin scéal eile.

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