Vol. 426 No. 7
151 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, being taken by ERAD in view of scientific research relating to the connection between the infection and spread of bovine TB and badgers; the number of badgers killed; and the manner in which they are killed.
It is now widely recognised that badgers play a role in the transmission of Bovine TB and there is a growing body of scientific evidence to support this opinion.
With regard to control, badgers are a protected species under the Wildlife Act, 1976, and may only be removed under licence. Where my Department is satisfied that there is a probable link between badgers and an outbreak of bovine TB in cattle application is made to the Wildlife Service of the Office of Public Works for a licence to remove badgers for post-mortem. Applications are considered in the context of an agreed programme of research aimed at determining what role the badger plays in the transmission of bovine TB. Badgers are removed by shooting and are brought to the most conveniently located veterinary laboratory for post-mortem examination and disposal. The overall position nationally is that 1,547 badgers were removed for research in 1992.
There are a number of ongoing research projects including the quantifying of the number of badgers in the country and the incidence of TB in the badger population as well as examination of the extent to which the removal of badgers influences the level of bovine TB. It is planned to commence a feasibility study shortly into the development of a vaccine for use in badgers and possibly other species.
