asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries his plans for the warble fly eradication campaign during 1971; if new legislation will be required to implement these plans; and, if so, when it will be introduced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Warble Fly Eradication.
55.
Following discussions which I have had with the main farming organisations and other interests concerned arrangements are in hand for the operation by the AI services of a national warble fly eradication scheme this autumn.
I will make a Statutory order in due course providing that as from the 16th November, 1971, it will be an offence for any person to have in his possession or under his charge any cattle to which the order applies which are not accompanied by a treatment certificate, or a document in lieu of such certificate, as prescribed in the order.
Under what Acts can the Minister make this order?
I do not know, but it can be done.
Will the Minister make inquiries because the compound or the dressing used last year was not successful in many counties? Are the cattle becoming immune to it, or what is the reason? It was not successful in my county.
I do not think so. I made exhaustive inquiries about this and what I was told is that, in certain type of animals, when the preparation is applied to the animal's back, at that stage the migration of the warble grub is going through a layer of fat tissue and may escape killing. It is not absolutely 100 per cent perfect, but there is no evidence of any dilution of the effect of the dressing.
The Minister is aware that this year many cattle could not be exported because they showed warble fly. What will happen next year? Will the British authorities take them if they have the certificate but still show warble fly?
We are discussing that very aspect of the question with the British and North of Ireland authorities at present.