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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 4

Other Questions. - Bovine Diseases.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

114 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in relation to the elimination of bovine tuberculosis. [25541/03]

The bovine tuberculosis eradication scheme which complies fully with the relevant EU legislation has reduced the level of tuberculosis from 17% of animals in 1955 to 0.3% today. The maintenance of this low incidence is essential if Ireland is to trade internationally with the highest international disease status. This is of immense benefit to the economy, given that 90% of bovines are exported in one form or another. Our controls have achieved a steady decline in the numbers of TB reactors since 1999. Some 44,900 reactors were identified in that year, compared with less than 29,000 in 2002. Similar numbers are likely to be identified this year.

Further progress towards final eradication is constrained, however, by the presence of a wildlife reservoir of infection. In this regard, the Department of Agriculture and Food operates an active wildlife programme nationwide. The four area badger study has just been completed. The final report on the study is being prepared for publication. The Department also has in place an ongoing research programme and liaises with international bodies and organisations in relation to developments on TB eradication.

The information provided by the Minister of State is helpful. Perhaps I can tease out a couple of areas in respect of the bovine TB eradication programme. An Oireachtas committee said about 15 years ago that it should not be called an eradication programme but a programme of "containment". Essentially, we are talking about the elimination of the disease in internationally acceptable terms. Have we reached that stage after 50 years of the scheme? How near are we to it? I would also like to ask about the cost of the scheme. I have read that expenditure on the bovine eradication or elimination scheme, in present day money terms, has been about €2 billion to date. Does the Minister of State believe we have got good value for money in the context of the results produced?

Have there been any new research developments? I read about a blood test that might produce a more accurate result. Has this fallen by the wayside? I know that tuberculin was improved at one stage. Have we reached the optimum level in respect of testing procedures? Have there been any new developments?

The final point I would like to make relates to wildlife. Many have spoken about badgers and other wildlife during the years. It has been suggested to me that the increase in planting and the consequent increase in wildlife habitats has meant that the problem has worsened. A reference was once made to a wildlife vaccination programme but I am not sure if that was feasible or possible. Can the Minister of State touch on this aspect of the matter in his reply?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I remind Deputies that there is a one minute time limit on supplementary questions.

The fact that the present day figure is 0.3% means, in effect, that we have reached the highest international standards in our disease status. This is widely accepted to be true, not only of TB but also of brucellosis. Very effective work has been done to control BSE. I am satisfied that we have come a long way and the figures speak for themselves. In 1960 there were 140,000 reactors. This figure has dropped dramatically. One also has to accept that there are much larger herd numbers today. We have reached the highest international standard. These facts must be considered in the context of the fact that we export some €7 billion worth of food, which is a fairly minimal figure in the context of what we export overall. The cost of the eradication of TB and brucellosis amounts to €52 million this year, of which approximately €32 million is dedicated to TB eradication.

Research on vaccination is ongoing. We liaise with the various international groups, particularly those in Northern Ireland, England and New Zealand, but a suitable vaccine has not been found to date. There is no doubt in anybody's mind that the badger seems to be the main cause of the spread of TB in Ireland. We have a series of programmes in place in this regard and the rel evant report will be published shortly. We have been very successful regarding certain pilot projects in different counties. The programmes operate under licence and strict controls, but we must maintain a balance. Our animal rights friends are concerned about the number of badgers that are being destroyed. We have to take all such considerations on board.

Badgers have been under discussion for a long time regarding the question of finding a humane policy to protect, as much as possible, animal herds from infection. When will the report be published? Will the Minister of State indicate whether it will contain practical proposals, such as vaccination, if this is deemed practical?

There has always been a suggestion that bad testing has been taking place. What is the position on this? Is it being eliminated or contained?

We use the same skin test as is used in England. It is generally accepted, and will be until such time as change is deemed necessary. I know many of my predecessors in the House would dearly love to have seen the eradication of TB. As the Deputy stated, it has been a major subject of discussion for many years, both long before and since I became a Member. We are satisfied that the test is the best possible one available to us.

I asked about bad testing methods by a small minority of veterinary practitioners.

I would not like to comment on that in the House. If the Deputy has some proof of what he is saying, he might pass it on to me privately.

Positive results will emanate from the report that is to be published. The figures speak for themselves and there is a great success rate. Ideally, we would love to eliminate TB totally, but we have not yet progressed that far.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Chair is faced with a dilemma because we have exceeded the time allowed for this question. I will take an unusual step, which is not to be taken as a precedent, and give a chance to two Members from each side to put their questions. I call on Deputy Crawford to ask a brief question.

Is there a change of policy on TB, given that herds with a sizeable breakdown are no longer being bought out? This is causing extreme hardship for farmers and the costs they incur are catastrophic. It seems very strange that if one animal goes down with BSE, the whole herd is culled – this is totally uncalled for at present – whereas in cases where a large percentage of a herd has TB, the remainder of that herd is not culled.

I compliment the Minister and his Department on the decrease in the number of reactors. As a farmer, I understand it is very important that TB be fully eradicated because 90% of our beef is exported.

The new system of purchasing reactors on the farm by valuers seems to be a great success compared to the old system and farmers seem to be much more satisfied with it. Is there a hardship grant available all the time for farmers who get tied up for a long period?

Does the Minister of State know the economic cost, in monetary terms, of the programme in recent years? Does he envisage any changes in the proposals regarding how this cost will be met in the forthcoming Estimates? Does he believe the Government will revisit the issue of disease levies, which were doubled last year?

We are told by the veterinary people that badgers are the main carriers of TB. Are wild deer regarded as serious carriers of TB? On a recent visit by the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food to Hungary, Deputy Upton and I asked the veterinary people there how they eradicated TB and what were the main carriers of the disease. They told us foxes were the main carriers. If Hungary has a problem with foxes, we must have a problem with them as well.

Hungry foxes.

There will be nothing left alive by the time we are finished. What progress is being made regarding vaccination? I understand there have been significant breakthroughs. When can vaccination be tried on a pilot basis? Can the Minister of State quantify whether animal movements, not to mention movements from county to county associated with stag and fox hunts, have contributed to the spread of TB and brucellosis?

The Minister of State mentioned that herds are getting larger. Is it not the case that there will be reduced herd numbers, whatever about herd sizes, as a result of decoupling? Is this to be taken into account in respect of the TB eradication scheme?

Following on from Deputy Sargent's question, we have one of the most watertight tracing systems anywhere in Europe, whereby individual herdowners are obliged to register any animal movements from the farm to the mart or between individual farms. Has there been a discernible decline in the level of TB infection because of the new system of registration? On the basis of the statistics the Minister of State quoted earlier, it seems that the trend on the graph is going in the right direction. How much credit for the downward spiral on the graph can be attributed to the new system of registration on individual farms?

There will possibly be a reduction in the number of animals and the movement of animals. This will have positive effects on all the various diseases from which our animal herds suffer. It remains to be seen.

Deputy Sargent asked about progress on vaccination. Our researchers in Abbotstown and elsewhere are working extremely hard to find a suitable vaccine but have not found one to date. I do not want to say I foresee the production of a vaccine at any stage because it has been awaited for many years without success. Furthermore, research has been carried out in many other countries and they have not found one either.

I would not like to anticipate what might appear in the Estimates but we are confident that the Department of Agriculture and Food will receive a reasonable sum from the Department of Finance. I hope we will not have to increase the fees and, if we do not, we will all be happy.

As regards independent valuers, the system has been well received. An appeals system is also in place and the hardship grants have been maintained. To respond to Deputy Crawford's question on whether the system has been changed, it has not been changed and I do not envisage change in the near future.

When will we have the report?

I hope to have it within months.

Will we have it before the end of the year?

I expect to have it early in the new year.

Why are some farmers treated differently?

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