asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the latest date fixed for the clearance of reactors in the southern dairying areas, namely, 30th June 1964, occurs at the peak of the milking season in those areas; and, if so, if he will be prepared to grant an extension in the time to, say 30th December so that farmers could dispose of their reactors with the minimum financial loss.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clearance of Bovine TB Reactors.
15.
Compulsory eradication is being introduced in the southern counties as from to-morrow. In the other parts of the country when this stage was reached all reactors had to be removed on being identified. Farmers in the South whose herds are still heavily infected are being given a very valuable concession in being allowed to remove their reactors according to a set programme extending over two years. It would be only toying with eradication to extend the time beyond this limit and I would hope that long before June 1964 most farmers in the South will have cleared their herds.