asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether he is satisfied that bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis are being effectively eradicated in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Animal Disease Eradication.
52.
The position in relation to bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis eradication in County Donegal is reasonably satisfactory in so far as the number of reactor herds represent only a very small proportion of all herds in the county. These herds are mainly concentrated in a few areas to which particular attention is being paid. I shall not be satisfied until we rid all these herds of these diseases. The speed with which this can be achieved depends largely on the full co-operation of all concerned and on compliance with the relevant regulations.
It is a fact that the percentage is very low. Is the Minister aware that before eradication was started the percentage was extremely low?
It was.
In fact, it was the lowest in the country. Is the Minister now satisfied that he has got to the root cause of the breakdowns—and there have been several breakdowns— which are still raging in certain areas in the county? Has the cause of this been found and is the Minister in a position to take the necessary action to clean up the mess which was imported by what means I do not know?
The further note I have on this is that the reasons for the breakdown cannot be positively stated. The indications are, however, that there was illegal movement of cattle into Donegal from the North over the past couple of years when older animals, including in-calf heifers, appear to have been moved in illegally with a view to increasing herd sizes.
I take it that supplementary information relates specifically to brucellosis?
No. I am talking about TB.
In the case of brucellosis has the Minister any specific information on how or where the infection would appear to have risen rather drastically in some areas in the county?
The present disease incidence is attributed to the recent practice by Donegal herd owners of introducing in-calf heifers from the North, non-observance of the regulations relating to the reporting of abortions and isolation of reactors and delays in rounds of testing by practitioners. The 1974 round of testing is not yet completed and each of the two previous rounds took 22 months to complete. The introduction of lay samplers would undoubtedly help to overcome the situation.
Would the Minister endeavour to ensure that it was not only from the North that the infection was brought, and find out, if at all possible, whether other infected animals were brought illegally into the county and whether this is not the root cause of the whole problem in relation to TB and brucellosis?
I get the Deputy's message and I will have a look at it.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
Could you, Sir, indicate at this stage whether Question Time will be confined to one hour tomorrow? Some Deputies whose questions are further down the list might ask for written answers. Could the Parliamentary Secretary help, I wonder?
I have not consulted anybody about tomorrow but I think the intention is, for so long as the Dáil is under pressure, to stick to the Standing Orders and simply have Question Time for one hour on Thursdays. No doubt we will go back to the old system when the pressure eases.