I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 to 228, inclusive, together.
CLA is a bacterial disease of sheep and goats that can cause economic losses in the form of poor weight gain, lower wool yield, reproductive inefficiency, devaluation of hides and condemnation of carcasses at slaughter. It is not possible to be definitive about the origin of the disease in Ireland, although a number of cases in recent years can be linked to imports of breeding stock. It is equally difficult to be certain about the exact number of cases because there is no readily available test which could facilitate screening for the disease. However, there are grounds for believing that there is substantial under-reporting of the disease and the available evidence suggests that the disease is common in many flocks.