Vol. 511 No. 4
65 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon has a restricted herd under tuberculosis and brucellosis in spite of the fact that he had two clear consecutive tests; the regulations regarding the tagging of animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24670/99]
The herd of the person in question was tested on 21 June 1997 and two bovine tuberculosis reactors were disclosed. Subsequent retests on 10 April 1998 and 12 June 1998 were clear.
However, movement restrictions remain in place in respect of this holding because the herdowner has not complied with the requirement to identify all calves born in his herd. Such a requirement is laid down in national and EU legislation which obliges herdowners to attach eartags to animals born in their herds since 1 January 1996. This legislation also provides for the restriction of movements to and from holdings when identification and registration provisions are not complied with.
Detailed information and instructions on identification and registration requirements were sent by post to each herdowner. In addition, the herdowner in question has received two further letters from my Department confirming that he is obliged by law to tag all calves born into his herd since 1996. He has also on several occasions been offered the assistance of my Department's personnel in tagging his animals, but he has declined to avail of this offer.
More recently, Roscommon district veterinary office has made an offer to the herdowner for a veterinary inspector to visit him to clarify the position regarding the tagging and identification of calves and the legal obligations placed on herdowners. It is hoped that this offer will be accepted by the herdowner to ensure the traceability of his herd. Otherwise, the Department will have no alternative but to continue to have his herd restricted and in due course to take further action in this case.
