asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his attention has been drawn to a statement by the British National Farmers' Union warning British farmers against purchasing Irish cattle because of the dangers of Brucellosis; if he has taken suitable steps to counteract this statement which is without foundation; and what action he has taken in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Brucellosis in Cattle.
11.
I have seen the statement referred to by the Deputy. On 2nd November my Department replied as follows:
Such a statement will cause unwarranted damage to the trade between the two countries. This advice could only be valid if it applied to all cattle purchases whether from British or Irish herds. We cannot understand why Irish cattle have been singled out.
The incidence of brucellosis in Britain is as great, if not greater than in Ireland. The type of heifer that is normally imported into Britain is produced in the west of Ireland. In a recent survey in Donegal, the first test for brucellosis showed an incidence of less than one per cent, even before the full eradication scheme got under way.
It should be remembered, however, that the vast majority of our cattle are for further feeding and do not go into breeding herds. We are making good progress with the eradication of brucellosis in Ireland, and we are ahead of Britain in tackling this disease.
This was issued to the Irish and British Press and to Radio-Telefís Éireann.
The Minister will agree that this statement by the British National Farmers Union could be taken as a most serious and damaging statement concerning our livestock, which is up to world standard? Does he think it desirable that, in addition to making it clear to the British National Farmers Union, he should also convey his protest to the British Minister of Agriculture and ask him to avail of some opportunity in Parliament of saying that this most damaging statement to Irish cattle was suitably contradicted?
I suppose it would be unlikely to expect that the British Minister of Agriculture has any more jurisdiction over the NFU than I would have over the NFA.
I hope he has a little more.
I doubt it.