Vol. 514 No. 6
160 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his attention has been drawn to the survey being carried out by his counterpart in the United Kingdom regarding livestock husbandry on organic dairy farms to see if anything can be learned on controlling tuberculosis; if this information will be applied here; and if similar research is planned on organic farms here. [4707/00]
I am aware of the survey being carried out in the United Kingdom arising from the Krebs report on bovine tuberculosis in cattle and badgers in the United Kingdom, published in 1997, which recommended that an experimental comparison of different husbandry techniques, including husbandry in organic conditions, should be undertaken to assess their contribution to the TB problem. No results have yet been published, but when they are available they will be critically examined by my Department. Similar research is not planned in this country.
