Vol. 405 No. 5
7 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he intends to introduce measures to relieve hardship imposed on herdowners where the disease bovine leucosis is detected, arising from the low compensation and the lock up of restriction period of two years on the herd; and if he will allow the small number of leucosis-positive herds in the country the same freedom and concession for depopulation as now operates for herds affected by BSE.
Special measures are being finalised which will facilitate herd owners, whose holdings are restricted due to enzootic bovine leukosis, to slaughter surplus animals in order to relieve overstocking. The measures will be in the form of ex gratia payments up to certain defined limits and payable in respect of slaughtered animals. Herdowners, who are understood to be over-stocked, have been notified that my Department will contact them shortly in this regard.
In a small number of cases where there was justification on veterinary grounds total depopulation has been effected. Similar action in relation to the remaining restricted herds would not be warranted.
The Minister mentioned that on veterinary grounds depopulation is allowed where bovine leucosis is detected. However on trade grounds alone would the Minister allow total depopulation where BSE is detected? Given the small number of herds nationally, about 20, which are leucosis-restricted at present, why not allow the same concession for trade reasons if not for veterinary reasons because it has a very serious effect on trade?
My information is that there are 13 herds at present.
That makes a better case; it costs very little.
In the TB and brucellosis round this year leucosis will be included to determine the full extent nationally. Special measures are being finalised to try to compensate to the maximum extent, herds which are affected by this disease.
The Minister has partially answered the question I was going to ask, which was, if there would be a full round of leucosis testing this year. He states that there will be. In view of that can he tell us when he hopes he will be in a position to declare our standards with regard to leucosis which at the moment is having a major effect on exports of cattle from this country, especially to Northern Ireland and the UK?
In order to declare ourselves a leucosis free member state it will be necessary to undertake this national round which I hope will get going shortly. Depending on the outcome of that we will be able to make a statement.
We are both in agreement that we want to see an end to leucosis, if possible. The Minister mentioned that there were 13 herds involved. What would be the cost of paying the market value in compensation for the depopulation of those 13 herds?
That is a separate question.
It is the fundamental one. If that cost is not very high would it not be in the interests of the country generally to pay that?
Let me ask a related question.
I do not have that kind of information at the moment. The national round is being instituted to determine the level of disease. Following that round we should be in a much better position to undertake a programme in relation to it.
Since the Minister has announced some kind of plan to tackle the problem, he must at least know the cost of it. Would he let the House know the cost of the plan he has given us here today?
As I said at the outset, the measures are being finalised. We have not got as far as costing.
The Minister is very well aware of the importance of the store trade in the north-west, and in view of that would he ensure that the facilities for testing for leucosis in the laboratories in Sligo are not done away with?
