Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2013
559. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will sanction the payment of a herd test for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if his attention has been drawn to the circumstances in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23689/13]
View answerA notification (ER5) issued to the herdowner concerned on 26 February 2013 requesting him to have a contiguous herd test completed by 3 April 2013. The test was not completed by this date nor has it been completed to date. Accordingly, an Overdue C letter issued on 8 April 2013 and, in accordance with normal practice, his herd was automatically suspended. The herdowner made first point of contact with his District Veterinary Office (DVO) on 8 May 2013 when it received an undated note stating that “it was the Department’s turn to pay”. On the same date, the DVO wrote to the herdowner informing him that the test was overdue by almost 5 weeks and explaining that he had already been notified that, in line with the standard policy, the “Department pay” test would change to a “farmer pay” test if the test was not completed within the timeframe specified in the ER5. I am satisfied that the herdowner in question was given adequate notice of the consequences of failure to carry out the test by the due date.
