Of necessity, I will be brief. The main sources of TB are untested infected cattle, badly tested infected cattle, wildlife and environmental contamination from slurry and factory waste. We must realise that the ultimate responsibility for the removal of bovine TB rests with the farmers. We must see to it that post-1922 all our clear herds will be kept clear. We must take out all infested animals, that is, cattle and wildlife——
Estimates 1990 (Resumed). - Bovine Diseases (Levies) Regulations, 1990: Motion (Resumed).
Debate resumed on the following motion.
That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft:
Bovine Diseases (Levies) Regulations, 1990,
copies of which were laid in draft before Dáil Éireann on 27th June, 1990.
—(Minister for Agriculture and Food).
I am very sorry to interrupt the Deputy but I must call the Minister now in accordance with the order of the House.
I ask the Minister not to impose the proposed levies at present due to the very poor price of cattle and the prospect of a fodder shortage during the winter.
I want to refer to the point made by Deputy Ferris in regard to research. ERAD haved targeted research as being of primary importance. This is a very major change in the pattern of recent years. At present, 11 separate research projects are underway and ERAD will spend over £500,000 this year on research. An equal amount will be spent by varius other bodies, such as coops, UCD, UCG, the wildlife service, etc., on research. I agree that it was time this research was carried out so that we can get to the cause of the problem.
I was disappointed with what Deputy Connaughton said in regard to pre-movement testing. He implied that pre-movement testing is of no consequence, does not arise and was dreamt up by someone.
Prove it.
The Deputy was wrong when he said that I ignored the recommendations of ERAD; the opposite is the case. If Deputy Connaughton had any knowledge of the way ERAD approached their job——
I have.
——and the recommendations made by them he would not have made the sweeping statement he made about pre-movement testing and the 60-day two stock testing——
Prove it.
The Deputy can take it as a fact.
The Minister is not able to prove it and neither is anyone else.
The Deputy must have some other axe to grind. The Deputy suggested that the pre-movement test of 30 days in respect of live cattle, which is a European Community requirement, is unreasonable. The Deputy might not like that but that is the reality we have to face up to. In the absence of a computerised movement permit system, conventional movement control is necessary and for that reason 45 days is the best compromise. We are putting in place a computerised programme. It does not do the Deputy any good to be complaining that we do not have a computerised programme when during his time in Government his party did not do a single thing about computerisation——
That is not correct, and the Minister knows it.
Deputy Connaughton, please let the Minister utilise the few minutes he has left, without interruptions.
What the Minister has said is not true and he knows it. We computerised the payment of cheques.
Computerisation is an essential element of what we are doing and is long overdue. Reactor grants will be adjusted every month in line with market trends and they will be increased or reduced as appropriate on the basis of recommendations for ERAD. We cannot have it both ways.
They would pay more if they had the money.
The badger problem is being tackled and the Government have approved two major projects. I want to distinguish these projects from what was done in east Galway. I am not saying that this was not important but these two major research and eradication projects will cover major catchment areas. We will continue the issuing of licences through the wildlife services to get the balance right between the wildlife concern and the need to deal with this problem.
I made it very clear — I do not know where Deputy Connaughton was when I said this — that whatever saving would accrue from European contributions or otherwise would be returned proportionately. That is what I said——
That is not what I meant.
Please do not distort what I said.
I did not distort what the Minister said.
Please, Deputy Connaughton, desist.
As I indicated, a major research survey is underway involving Australia and other countries, but so far there has not been a satisfactory blood test. However, we are hopeful that because of major research, in conjunction with other countries, there will be significant results. We are facing a major problem which has not been solved over 30 years. What are the specific factors? I did not say that there was one single factor. There are a whole range of them and I will point them out in case people choose to ignore them. One is the exceptionally high cattle movement in Ireland——
The time has come to put the question——
I must accept that.
——in accordance with the order of this House.
I hope that a realistic, honest approach will be taken at this stage.
Time has caught up with the Minister.
Question put.
The Dáil divided: Tá, 74; Níl, 60.
Tá
- Ahern, Bertie.
- Ahern, Dermot.
- Ahern, Michael.
- Aylward, Liam.
- Barrett, Michael.
- Brady, Gerard.
- Brady, Vincent.
- Brennan, Mattie.
- Briscoe, Ben.
- Browne, John (Wexford).
- Burke, Raphael P.
- Calleary, Seán.
- Callely, Ivor.
- Clohessy, Peadar.
- Connolly, Ger.
- Coughlan, Mary Theresa.
- Cowen, Brian.
- Cullimore, Séamus.
- Daly, Brendan.
- Davern, Noel.
- Dempsey, Noel.
- Dennehy, John.
- de Valera, Síle.
- Ellis, John.
- Fahey, Frank.
- Fahey, Jackie.
- Fitzgerald, Liam Joseph.
- Fitzpatrick, Dermot.
- O'Hanlon, Rory.
- O'Keeffe, Ned.
- O'Kennedy, Michael.
- O'Leary, John.
- O'Malley, Desmond J.
- O'Rourke, Mary.
- O'Toole, Martin Joe.
- Power, Seán.
- Quill, Máirín.
- Flood, Chris.
- Flynn, Pádraig.
- Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
- Harney, Mary.
- Hillery, Brian.
- Hilliard, Colm.
- Hyland, Liam.
- Jacob, Joe.
- Kelly, Laurence.
- Kenneally, Brendan.
- Kirk, Séamus.
- Kitt, Michael P.
- Kitt, Tom.
- Lawlor, Liam.
- Leonard, Jimmy.
- Leyden, Terry.
- Lyons, Denis.
- Martin, Micheál.
- McCreevy, Charlie.
- McDaid, Jim.
- McEllistrim, Tom.
- Morley, P. J.
- Nolan, M. J.
- Noonan, Michael J. (Limerick West).
- O'Connell, John.
- O'Dea, Willie.
- O'Donoghue, John.
- Reynolds, Albert.
- Roche, Dick.
- Smith, Michael.
- Stafford, John.
- Treacy, Noel.
- Tunney, Jim.
- Wallace, Dan.
- Wallace, Mary.
- Walsh, Joe.
- Wyse, Pearse.
Níl
- Ahearn, Therese.
- Barnes, Monica.
- Barrett, Seán.
- Barry, Peter.
- Belton, Louis J.
- Boylan, Andrew.
- Bradford, Paul.
- Browne, John (Carlow-Kilkenny).
- Bruton, John.
- Carey, Donal.
- Connaughton, Paul.
- Connor, John.
- Cosgrave, Michael Joe.
- Creed, Michael.
- Crowley, Frank.
- Currie, Austin.
- Deenihan, Jimmy.
- Doyle, Joe.
- Durkan, Bernard.
- Enright, Thomas W.
- Farrelly, John V.
- Ferris, Michael.
- Finucane, Michael.
- FitzGerald, Garret.
- Flaherty, Mary.
- Flanagan, Charles.
- Foxe, Tom.
- Gregory, Tony.
- Harte, Paddy.
- Higgins, Jim.
- Higgins, Michael D.
- Hogan, Philip.
- Howlin, Brendan.
- Kavanagh, Liam.
- Kemmy, Jim.
- Kenny, Enda.
- Lee, Pat.
- Lowry, Michael.
- McCormack, Pádraic.
- McGahon, Brendan.
- McGinley, Dinny.
- McGrath, Paul.
- Mitchell, Gay.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- Nealon, Ted.
- Noonan, Michael. (Limerick East).
- O'Brien, Fergus.
- O'Shea, Brian.
- O'Sullivan, Gerry.
- Owen, Nora.
- Pattison, Séamus.
- Reynolds, Gerry.
- Ryan, Seán.
- Shatter, Alan.
- Sheehan, Patrick J.
- Spring, Dick.
- Stagg, Emmet.
- Taylor, Mervyn.
- Timmins, Godfrey.
- Yates, Ivan.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies V. Brady and Clohessy; Níl, Deputies J. Higgins and Howlin.
Question declared carried.