Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 February 2014
608. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm receipt of correspondence of the ERAD division from my office in respect of a person (detail supplied) in County Donegal; the reasons a reply has not been issued in respect of same; if the matter complained of has been investigated; if compensation will be awarded to the person in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9628/14]
View answerI can confirm receipt of the correspondence referred to. Due to an oversight, no response issued to this correspondence, which is regretted.
The background to this case is that a cow tested as part of the annual round test of the herd owned by the person concerned on 26 July 2013 showed a positive result for TB. This result was subsequently confirmed by means of an examination by a Department Veterinary Inspector and also by means of the appropriate blood test. Under relevant EU and national legislation designed to eradicate this disease, an animal which discloses a positive result to a TB test must be deemed a reactor and must be removed in a timely manner from the herd. I might add that the fact that TB lesions were not detected following slaughter of the animal in no way undermines the definitive nature of the above results.
The herdowner refused to co-operate with the normal arrangements in place for removal of the reactor on two occasions and also failed to comply with a 7 day statutory notice requiring him to arrange delivery of the animal to a slaughter plant. The reactor animal was eventually removed from the holding on 25 September in the presence of 3 members of An Garda Síochána and 4 Department staff.
Entitlement to compensation in the event of a TB disease breakdown is conditional on a herdowner complying with the provisions of the EU and national regulations governing the TB Eradication scheme. As the person named demonstrably refused to co-operate with the removal of the reactor, compensation was not paid in respect of the reactor removed.
The herd concerned is no longer restricted, having passed the requisite two clear tests, at 60 day intervals, from the date the reactor animal was removed from the holding.
