Vol. 441 No. 1
151 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the scientific evidence which exists to prove that badgers are the cause of TB amongst cattle in Ireland; the reason licences to snare and shoot are being granted during the breeding season; if he will quantify the success, if any, the practice of eliminating badgers has had in eradicating TB; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It is now widely recognised that badgers play a role in the transmission of bovine TB and there is a strong body of scientific evidence to support this opinion. This view was supported by a Royal Irish Academy conference which was held in 1991 and at an international seminar on bovine TB held in London in November 1993. In addition, a review by the Economic and Social Research Institute published in 1989 concluded that in many parts of the country it may not be possible to control bovine TB without controlling the badger population.
With regard to control, badgers are a protected species under the Wildlife Act, 1976 and may only be removed under strict licence conditions. 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 the role the badger plays in the transmission of bovine TB.
