asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if there are any proposals to re-activate the Warble Fly Eradication Scheme in the current financial year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Warble Fly Eradication.
8.
I would refer the Deputy to replies given to questions on the subject on the 24th February last. Since then, I have been asked by the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society to receive a deputation including farming organisations and other interests, and I have agreed to do so.
Surely the Minister and the Government are aware of the serious implications of eradication of warble fly. Many individual farmers have spent a lot of money on dressing their herds but the Department have done nothing to eradicate this disease. After spending a large amount of money for two years they let it lapse. Some farmers did not dress their herds and now the disease is rampant. The Department received reports from the Six Counties——
I would remind the Deputy that we cannot have a speech on this question.
We all realise that the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries cannot be here because he has handed in his resignation to the Taoiseach and is waiting for the time being, but will the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that there is a complete breakdown in this scheme? Marts are refusing cattle and Northern Ireland buyers are turning them back at all the sales. Farmers have to accept £15 less for the affected animals if they are forced to sell them. Even at this stage, will the Minister not allow the farmers to purchase the dressing and treat the cattle themselves or else introduce a compulsory scheme so that every farmer can deal with the matter? Surely the Minister realises that we are losing at least £5 million or £6 million a year?
May I ask why did the farming organisations refuse to accept the scheme introduced last September?
The Department are fully aware of the need to eradicate warble fly but it is not an easy problem with which to deal. It is difficult to bring about a situation in which the warble fly could be eradicated completely. We must be on the watch all the time and, therefore, it is essential to get the co-operation of all concerned. This is the reason this discussion is being arranged with the farming organisations and with the artificial insemination stations in order to get this co-operation and to deal with the problem.
How does the Parliamentary Secretary propose to deal with this, in view of the fact that there has been a reduction of approximately £18,000 in the amount provided in the Estimates this year as compared with the amount provided last year for warble fly eradication?
We will cope with it if we get the co-operation of all the people concerned. It is very much in the interests of the farmers that we get this co-operation because it is they who will benefit most.
I am calling Question No. 9.