andMr. Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement on the position of the cattle export trade to Britain in view of the restrictions imposed by the British Government to come into operation on 1st June, 1976.
8.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Trade.
7.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement on the likely effects of the restrictions proposed by the UK Government on imports of Irish cattle; and their likely effect on trade here.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together. The British Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Scotland have made orders providing that, with effect from 1st June next, cattle imported into Britain by sea from this country, other than castrated males and those intended to be moved direct from the landing place to a slaughterhouse for immediate slaughter, must, within the 30 days immediately preceding shipment, have passed a comparative TB test.
The test may be carried out by veterinary practitioners engaged to do so by the exporters. Veterinary inspectors of my Department will, on the strength of the practitioners' certificates, complete an official certificate in relation to each consignment at the time of export. The Deputies will appreciate that the vast bulk of animals in our export trade to Britain are bullocks which will not be subject to the test. Most of the remainder of the cattle to which the new orders relate already have to be subjected to a blood test for brucellosis before export. Accordingly, I do not consider that the new requirement relating to TB testing will have any significant effect on the cattle export trade between the two countries.
Does the Minister not acknowledge that, in the case of the export trade in breeding heifers, this new imposition by the British Ministry would have a deterrent effect? Does the Minister not acknowledge also that the action of the British Government accentuates the need for a settlement between the Minister and the veterinary profession of the dispute that has been going on now for 18 months?
I do not acknowledge that it will have any very deleterious effect on trade for the reasons given in the first reply. In respect of the action of the British Government, we are not responsible for that but the move has been taken. Therefore, we must take steps to see that our trade is protected and defended. These tests have been taken and, as the brucellosis test must be taken anyway, it would appear as if the other test will not have any real effect.
Did I understand the Minister to say that his colleague, the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, is in no way responsible for the present situation or for inducing the British Ministry to protect their own livestock? Surely it is the failure of the Minister to get a settlement of the dispute between himself and the veterinary profession that is responsible for it?
The Minister is very keen to get a settlement and a settlement would help things greatly. But, in the intervening period before this very desirable settlement is effected, the action of the British Government will not have a serious effect. It would be wrong if people took that view, because, as has been stated in the first reply, the vast bulk of animals are bullocks exported for this trade. Those that are not bullocks have to be subjected to a brucellosis test anyway. Therefore, it is merely a matter of an extra test.
Might I suggest to the Minister the he use his good offices with his colleague, the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, to persuade him to accept the employment of lay technicians in the disease eradication scheme in a non-professional capacity because that is the only way he will get the scheme going again? It is well past the time——
That is a separate question and I will bring the views of the Deputy to the attention of the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.
Do I take it from the Minister that female cattle being exported have not to come off a TB-free herd? Would I not be right in saying that the order is not alone must the cattle be tested but that they must come off a completely TB-free herd? Does this not take us back to the question posed by Deputy Gibbons about the veterinary strike—that an awful lot of people are testing merely the cattle they have for sale but that, when their herds are tested, there would probably be found to be reactors in them?
The position is that for entry into accredited herds or clearance areas in the United Kingdom all breeding and store cattle, except bullocks over six months, must come from a brucellosis-free herd here and have passed a blood test within 30 days of export. For entry into other herds such animals, if over 12 months of age, must have passed a brucellosis blood test within 30 days of export. It is understood that very few of these animals are exported at 12 months old or less. There has to be a few days' interval between the time a blood sample is taken and the result of the test is made available. Accordingly, the carrying out of the required TB test—which has to be completed 72 hours after injection—should not disrupt trading arrangements for these categories of cattle.
Arising from the Minister's reply——
A final supplementary.
They have to come from a TB-free herd. Not alone is it good enough to test them going across but they must come from a TB-free herd——
Yes.
Well then I am of the opinion—and I am sorry to have to say it—owing to the veterinary strike very few completely free——
The veterinary strike is a separate matter and worthy of a separate question. Question No. 9.
The Deputy is entitled to his opinion.
It is the opinion of a lot of people at present.