Vol. 418 No. 5
122 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline his Department's attitude to the elimination of badgers in areas were bovine TB is prevalent; his views on whether infected badgers cause TB in cattle; and if his Department are supporting any pilot schemes for the elimination of badgers.
Badgers are removed for research purposes under licence issued by the Wildlife Service, Office of Public Works. A significant percentage of badgers removed have been found on post mortem to be infected with bovine TB and it is generally accepted that they are involved in its transmission. A major project is in train to monitor the effect of the removal of badgers on bovine TB diseases levels, but it is too early at this stage to draw any definite conclusions.
