Vol. 405 No. 5
5 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions he has had with ERAD and the veterinary unions on the new proposals put forward for the elimination of bovine TB; and if he has satisfied himself that the new programme will progress as scheduled.
19 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the progress which has been made in relation to the application for Community funding for disease eradication; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
40 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline his plans or proposals in relation to the 60-day pre-movement test; if this test will be retained; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 5, 19 and 40 together.
As President of the Council of Agriculture Ministers in June 1990 I got agreement for the establishment of a European Community funded Veterinary Fund.
In November, 1990 we submitted a detailed request for Community financial aid from the fund for the eradication of bovine TB.
The EC Standing Veterinary Committee decided on 12 February 1991 to approve a revised TB eradication programme for the next three years, which will result in 50 per cent of reactor compensation being refunded by the Commission over that period. This decision, which is subject to ratification by the EC Commission, is conditional on a number of changes in the scheme.
These include new arrangements for the allocation of testing to private practitioners and I hope to have discussions with the Irish Veterinary Union in the near future. As regards premovement testing a 60 day test will be required for the first year of the programme and a 30 day test for the subsequent two years.
