Agriculture Committee to discuss Brexit; Bovine TB eradication programme

21st November 2016

The schedule for the meeting is as follows:

(i) Impact of the UK Referendum on membership of the European Union on the Irish agri-foods and fisheries sectors [Mr. Trevor Donnellan and Mr. Kevin Hanrahan, Teagasc]; and

(ii) Testing in Ireland's Bovine TB eradication programme [Ms. Margaret Good, Senior Superintending Veterinary Inspector, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine]

Committee Chair, Pat Deering TD, said: “In the first session of tomorrow’s meeting Trevor Donnellan and Kevin Hanrahan from Teagasc will brief the Committee on Brexit and the Agrifood and fisheries sectors. Their report from April of this year, entitled, ‘Brexit: Potential Implications for the Irish Agri-Food Sector’ will form the basis of discussions. Some of the topics Members will wish to explore with them include the current market situation in relation to Irish trade with the UK and the possible risks to our export market in the wake of Brexit.”

“The second session of the meeting will focus on testing in Ireland's Bovine TB eradication programme. We are pleased to have Ms. Margaret Good address us on this topic as she is recognised internationally as an expert in the field. The effort to rid Ireland of bovine TB has been ongoing since the 1950s and issues remain around the cost to farmers, protecting wildlife (particularly badgers in this case) and advances in testing. We welcome the chance to address this area of significant concern with Ms. Good tomorrow.”

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ENDS