asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, in view of the continuing difficulties which some farmers in western and north-western counties are experiencing in selling cattle which are subject to the present 30-day test, he will consider extending the test period to 60 days.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Test Period.
14.
In view of this country's relatively high incidence of bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis and our commitment to the EEC to accelerate eradication of these diseases, it would not be practicable at this stage to extend to 60 days the period of validity of the premovement test.
Is it possible for the Minister to negotiate a sales period of 60 days on a 30-day test?
At present under EEC rules and regulations we need a 30-day test for exports to other member states and it would not be prudent to have a different system for internal sales.
That is not what I asked. I asked was it possible to negotiate a 60-day sales period on a 30 days test?
No. A 30-day test is required.
I am talking about the sale period on a 30-day test.
What does the Deputy mean?
I mean that you can sell for 60 days after the 30 days test, inclusive of the 30 days involved.
I am saying that the 30-day test is a condition of the EEC for export of cattle to member states. That has been there since 1978. The three year accelerated programme will be under discussion in a few months time in the EEC and with the improvements that have been made since 1978 I shall be doing my utmost to ensure that some hardships that are there will be eliminated, if possible.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is it not a fact that the Minister led farmers to believe that he had a solution for this 30 day test problem and that he proposed to ease it very much.
When was this?
Last January, and Deputy Gibbons took him up on it at that time.
The measures I undertook last January went as far as I could possibly go. I changed the re-test period from 60 days to 45 days, which is the limit. I promised absolutely no more and I have not had any complaint from any source, including Deputies opposite, about the measures I took at that time.
Is the Minister aware that this is creating extreme hardship on the people concerned? Is he also aware that he is not getting at the root of the TB problem because the TB is not in young cattle but in the cow herds and there is no 30-day test for cow herds because they are not being sold?
I am aware of the hardship involved but one must be clear on the question of disease control. In fact the 30 day test has uncovered 3,000 TB reactors to date and 6,000 brucellosis reactors. If the test were not in operation these 9,000 animals could be going through the country spreading disease over that period. I do not think any of us wants to relax measures just for the sake of doing so. We know they cause hardship but we know that it is in our interest and particularly in the interest of producers to eliminate these two dreadful diseases.
Is the Minister aware——
Ceist 15. I am sorry, Deputy.
——that large numbers of cattle are being sold without the 30-day test?