(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture the steps he proposes to take as a matter of extreme urgency to end the impasse which has arisen between his Department and the Irish Veterinary Union so that the bovine TB eradication scheme may proceed forthwith without any further delay or disruption.
Private Notice Question. - TB Eradication Programme.
The 1985 bovine TB eradication programme commenced yesterday with the issue of test listings to those veterinary surgeons who have agreed to participate in the scheme on the terms and conditions laid down by the Government in the context of the national plan. These arrangements have the full backing of the major farming organisations. The executive of the Irish Veterinary Union, however, have decided to reject the arrangements and I understand that they are currently balloting their members on this decision.
I should like to point out that in agreeing in the present difficult financial situation to provide substantial extra funds for disease eradication the Government demonstrated their commitment to getting rid of bovine TB once and for all. However, they are not prepared to continue with the testing arrangements which have failed to achieve any progress in recent years and so in the interests of taxpayers generally and of farmers, who bear much of the burden of the disease, they have decided that the provision of extra funds should be subject to certain conditions which will give me more effective control over the operation of the eradication measures.
There is more than enough testing work available and I invite all veterinary surgeons to participate in this important national effort.
(Limerick West): Is the Minister aware that his uncompromising attitude in this dispute may lead to a total suspension of the scheme? My information is that in the region of only 60 or 70 vets have applied to participate in the scheme.
I should like to know what the Deputy means by "uncompromising". I do not think taxpayers would give me any credit for being otherwise or not adopting the attitude I am adopting. The scheme has cost taxpayers here approximately £1 billion. It has also cost farmers here a vast amount of money and a great deal of hardship. What I am doing is taking control of the scheme which has worked most unsatisfactorily over the years. There has been little or no improvement over the past few years despite the vast amount of money that has been spent. I have no intention of going back on my proposal to control the scheme from beginning to end.
(Limerick West): Does the Minister not recognise the right of the farmer to nominate his own veterinary surgeon for testing in view of the fact that he now contributes up to 50 per cent of the total cost of the scheme?
I should like to point out to the Deputy that the farming organisations have given me their full support in what I propose to do. I do not intend to go back to the old system. The system that started yesterday will be maintained. I hope the veterinary surgeons — I believe the majority hold this view — are of the opinion that this is the right way to tackle the problem and will support us in our efforts.
Will the Minister explain to the House the reason he rejected the document issued to him by the three interested veterinary groups, including veterinary officers in his Department? Recommendations were contained in it which would be in the interest of the disease eradication programme.
I did not reject that document. The principal finding of that survey carried out by the three veterinary bodies was that veterinary surgeons should have individual accountability as regards the TB eradication programme. That is the essence of the Government's proposal, individual accountability.
(Limerick West): Is the Minister aware that the implication is that the scheme will not proceed in the absence of co-operation from the Irish Veterinary Union?
The scheme is proceeding. It commenced yesterday and testing will commence next week. Listings were sent out as from yesterday. I am hopeful that a sizeable number of vets, better still, that all vets, will agree to participate.