Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 6

Written Answers. - TB and Brucellosis Testing.

Mary Harney

Question:

15 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the arrangements, if any, that have been made with the Irish Veterinary Profession to ensure that the 1994 round of TB and brucellosis testing can get underway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Desmond J. O'Malley

Question:

20 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the arrangements, if any, that have been made with the Irish Veterinary Profession to ensure that the 1994 round of TB and brucellosis testing can get underway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 20 together. The 1994 testing allocations for TB and brucellosis have been issued to private veterinary practitioners and a certain volume of testing has already been completed. The objective is to complete a smooth and orderly round of testing during the year.

Discussions have recently been held with the Irish Veterinary Union about its claim for a special fees review and the conditions under which this claim can be progressed have been outlined to the union. I would hope that the issue can be resolved through negotiation without disruption to the annual round of testing. Any such action by the union would be contrary to the terms of theProgramme for Competitiveness and Work and would be totally unwarranted as a method of pursuing its claim.