Thank you, Sir, for allowing me to raise this very important issue. The regulations governing the movement of animals from restricted herds or a restricted area are very very severe. I fully support that. A farmer found in breach of such rules would face the wrath of a district justice and would have to face a jail penalty. We have spent millions since the mid-fifties trying to eradicate bovine TB and brucellosis. The cost to the State has been enormous but the cost to individual farmers whose herds have been stricken with disease is devastating. The compensation is not adequate, given the enormous increase in the value of dairy herds.
I raise this matter because it has come to my notice that animals were moved from a farm in Donegal without a proper permit. I understand that 101 cattle were taken from a restricted herd. The sheriff having failed to get the cattle for which he had a permit, took 101 other cattle to a destination in Ballinasloe, where they were not received when they arrived. The officials who issued the permit were at fault for not ensuring that before the cattle were moved from Donegal there was a home for them in Galway. The cattle had to remain in the lorries before proceeding after some considerable time to Navan, County Meath. Again there was no home for the cattle and no permit was yet in place.
After much controversy people objected to Friesian cattle in calf being slaughtered—phone calls were made to mysterious people who unfortunately must remain nameless and an offer was made by certain people that if the cattle were slaughtered, moneys would pass hands. The cattle were then moved to Ballinagh, County Cavan. The original owners and others who had taken up the case followed the lorries and thankfully the cattle were saved, following a phone call to the county registrar, Mr. Tommy Owens, at 2 a.m. He has a proper compound for receiving animals but at maximum it holds only 50 animals. When told of the distressed state of the cattle, who had been in the lorries for 24 hours he finally agreed under protest to have the animals brought to the compound. He was forced into that situation. I am happy to report that all the animals have made a full recovery having been exceptionally looked after due to the diligence of this man and his staff. They remain there without a permit.
Farmers in County Cavan are having enormous problems trying to eradicate bovine TB and brucellosis. I am not suggesting that the disease problems emanate from this compound in Crossdony but farmers fear that cattle travelling to the compound, especially from restricted herds, are a danger. The disposal of the dung puts animals at risk.
Departmental officials, officials of the sheriff's office in County Donegal and the bankers acted without due regard for the welfare of the animals and the farmers' lands through which they passed on their journey from Donegal to Ballinasloe, Navan and Ballinagh without a proper permit. If a farmer had done that he would be behind bars. The proper procedures were not in place and somebody was negligent. Family farms were put in danger by this irresponsible act and I hope it will never be repeated.
Mr. Tommy Owens, Cavan County Registrar, acted in the best interests of the animals in a situation over which he had no control and I compliment him and his staff on the manner in which they recovered.