asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what steps are being taken by him to ensure that the Warble Fly Eradication Scheme will be a success this year.
Questions—Ceisteanna. Oral Answers. - Warble Fly Scheme.
21.
The success of any warble fly eradication scheme must, of course, depend on the fullest co-operation of everyone concerned. For my part I am prepared, if a practicable scheme can be formulated, to make the necessary statutory regulations and to provide all possible help by way of expert advice and supervision. I may add that discussions with the farming organisations on this matter are currently in progress.
Surely the Minister is aware that if we had had the full co-operation of the Minister and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries three years ago, there would not be any necessity for the warble fly eradication scheme? The Minister disagreed with the NFA scheme and he brought it to a conclusion one year earlier than he should have.
I am confident that the farming organisations and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will be able to work out satisfactory arrangements for the implementation of a successful warble fly eradication scheme, although it may not be what Deputy L'Estrange would like.
I have always been in favour of the scheme. Surely the Minister is aware that it was his predecessor and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries who refused to co-operate with the NFA when they initiated the scheme and also that they discontinued the scheme at least one year before it should have ceased and, further, that that is the reason why warbles are still infesting herds throughout the country?
What are the Minister and his Department afraid of?
We are not afraid.
The Deputy would know a lot about warbles.
I would know as much as the Minister for Industry and Commerce knows anyway and it would be easy to know that.
He is a warble on the Taoiseach's back at present.
Order.
Arrangements are now being made to carry out a successful eradication scheme.
These arrangements would not be necessary if there had been co-operation with the NFA in the first instance.
Can I take it that the Minister is assuring the House he will co-operate with the farming organisations in this matter and that on this occasion he will take their advice?
Hear, hear.
Is the Minister going to answer my question?
If the Deputy had been listening to my original reply, he would have heard me say that discussions are taking place currently with the farming organisations in relation to the preparation of an eradication scheme.
There is as much talk about this as there was about the bovine tuberculosis scheme.
I am calling Question No. 22.
I would not accept what the Minister has said as being a reply to the question I asked.
That is not a matter for the Chair. I am calling Question No. 22.