asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what was the number and percentage of brucellosis cattle in counties, other than those in the scheme for 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969; if he will make a forecast for 1970; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Brucellosis Scheme.
33.
The counties in the brucellosis eradication scheme in the years in question were Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan. These counties have now been cleared and form an attested area. Full-scale eradication measures will be brought into operation over the next few months in counties Mayo, Louth, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath and Meath. The percentage of reactors we expect to identify in those counties in 1970-71 is 3.5.
There has been no general round of blood testing in the remaining 15 counties. There is, therefore, no precise information on the percentage of brucellosis reactors in those counties. In any event, there must still be in herds in the south many cows which would react to a blood as test not because of disease but because of Strain 19 injections in the past. This would make any guessing as to the real disease position in the south of even more doubtful value.
Would the Minister agree that neither the Department nor the former Minister made any effort to combat brucellosis in the counties where it was most prevalent? They were skirting around the counties where it was prevalent, but in the dairying counties no effort was made. I want to assure the Minister that the people there are prepared to make that effort. Is there a special interest in the North of Ireland counties?
Deputy O'Sullivan's suggestion is completely unfounded. Let me say, as he appears not to know, that the brucellosis eradication scheme is a very costly business. The best way to implement it is to start in the area that has the least incidence of the discase, as we did long ago. In the case of bovine TB you must proceed within your means. We are doing that and achieving satisfactory results.
Further arising——
I am calling Question No. 34.
This is a very important question. It means that if we intend to go into the Common Market——
Would the Deputy ask a question?
I am asking the Minister to take heed of the situation and to proceed with this work, wherever he gets the money.
Deputy O'Sullivan's supposition that we are in some way at a disadvantage in the matter of animal hygiene and disease going into the EEC is again completely wrong. The contrary is the case. In the case of many of these diseases we are in a very strong position in that we have no indigenous diseases like foot-and-mouth and other animal diseases of that kind.
What would the Minister say——
Question No. 34. The Deputy may not ask any more question.
How is it you gave the Minister freedom to speak, while you interfered with me? I do not think it is fair and I did not expect it from you.
The Chair did not interfere with the Deputy. He was allowed to put three or four supplementaries.
This is a very important matter.
There are other important matters on the Order Paper.