asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, when cattle are sold at marts without TB or brucellosis cards, it is the general practice in his Department to perform a test and issue new cards without warble fly certificates.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Mart Sales.
9.
It is illegal to expose cattle at any public sale unless they are accompanied by the proper identity cards in relation to bovine tuberculosis and, where appropriate, brucellosis and also the appropriate certificate of treatment for warble fly infestation.
In regard to TB or brucellosis certification, when undocumented or improperly documented animals are discovered at marts the animals are returned to their owners and, if the proper documentation cannot be produced, further movement of the animals and other cattle in the herd to which they belong is restricted by my Department until such time as they have passed the relevant test for TB and, if applicable, brucellosis. There is no means other than a treatment certificate of establishing whether the animals had been dressed at the proper time for warble fly infestation and unless the appropriate documentation is available in respect of the animals concerned they cannot be accepted for public sale.
Is the Minister satisfied that these regulations are being carried out? There is a feeling in the west that these regulations are not being complied with, that there is too much mixing going on and, as a result, we are failing to make any progress with the eradication of brucellosis.
We have people employed in the various marts throughout the country to do this job of inspection. They have been warned time and again and I hope they are doing their job.
Cattle cannot get into a mart without the necessary qualifications.