John Ellis
Question:60 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the proposals, if any, he has in relation to the removal of tuberculosis affected badgers in order to protect non-affected members of the species. [11542/97]
Written Answers. - Tuberculosis Affected Badgers.
The badger is a protected species under the Wildlife Act, 1976 and it is an offence, inter alia, to hunt, capture, kill, or injure them or interfere with or destroy their breeding places except in accordance with licences issued under the 1976 Act. They may only be removed humanely for research purposes, strictly in accordance with licensing conditions laid down by the national parks and wildlife service of my Department. I have no plans to arrange the removal of tuberculosis infected badgers for the protection of non-affected members of the species.
In the context of the Bovine TB eradication programme, where other possible sources of infection have been eliminated in an inquiry by Veterinary Officials of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry into the cause of a bovine TB outbreak in a locality, a limited number of badgers may be removed, under licence, to evaluate their TB status which is by way of post mortem.