asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will give details of the warble fly eradication scheme for the coming year; the total cost per annum to the farmers; and if there will be provision in the scheme for compensation in respect of any losses suffered as a result.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Warble Fly Eradication Scheme.
25.
Details of the warble fly eradication scheme for 1971 will be issued to every herd owner in the country within the next couple of weeks.
In brief the scheme provides for the dressing of cattle by the AI services during the period between 15th August, 1971 and 15th November, 1971. The scheme will be backed by a statutory order making it an offence for any person to have in his possession or under his control after the 15th November, 1971, an animal not accompanied by a certificate of dressing or other prescribed document in lieu.
The charge to the herdowner for dressing will be 20p per animal and the total cost to the herdowners this year should be approximately £1 million.
The dressing charge includes the cost of treatment and certification as well as an element in respect of compensation for any losses in which the involvement of the dressing is confirmed.
I suggest that the 20 new pence per annum is a very high figure and that this will defeat the purpose of the scheme from the outset. I am appalled to hear that the cost to the farming community is so high.
I disagree totally with the Deputy on this matter. I have discussed it at great length with the farming organisations and, as a herd owner myself, I can certainly say that leaving aside the actual specific application of the warble fly eradication scheme for that purpose, the general benefits in the elimination of animal parasites is worth well more than 20 new pence per annum.
(Interruptions.)
I am not in the least afraid the scheme will not be welcomed by farmers.
Will there be provision to insure against any losses arising?
There is provision for insurance in cases that can be directly traced back to the use of dressing.
Will the position be the same as the last time when it was almost impossible to prove the loss was a result of the dressing?
There are a number of misconceptions about the use of the dressing. For instance, it is commonly held that pregnant animals can be adversely affected and caused to abort by the application of the warble fly dressing. This is not the case, generally speaking. I do not contend that this is absolutely true in all cases but in the vast majority of cases abortions attributed to the use of the dressing can commonly be traced to accident or contagious abortion or other reasons.
Is the Minister not aware that where deaths occur—and they did occur—it was almost impossible to succeed in a claim?
This is a highly technical veterinary subject but I am aware that in certain very rare occasions there may be some type of shock. I cannot say exactly what kind of shock but it can, in rare cases, result in mortality.
I know four cases of people who lost the only cows they had.
(Interruptions.)
I take it from what the Minister said about there being no connection between abortion and the warble fly dressing that this is the view expressed by the veterinary section of his Department? I am sure the Minister will agree that this view is not shared by farmers and by the vets throughout the country?
I accept what the Deputy says. I confess that during the last scheme I was worried about this myself as a herd owner but I think we should now seek to destroy this misconception because I am satisfied now by my own veterinary advice that it is, in fact, a misconception.
Is the Minister talking about veterinary advice from the Department or advice from the Veterinary Association?
I am talking about ascribing to the dressing the abortion of pregnant cattle.