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Animal Diseases

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020

Tuesday, 15 September 2020

Ceisteanna (896)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

896. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to review the practice of writing to farmers requesting the destruction of animals identifying as high risk of contracting tuberculosis. [23910/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Bovine TB Forum is due to reconvene shortly and my Department will continue to engage in this round table effort to eradicate Bovine TB. The Bovine TB Forum Interim Report (July 2019) identified the need for effective information to be provided to farmers. It advocated for the development of herd risk categories that are “simple, clear, and convey sufficient information to enable farmers to make the decisions appropriate to their situation”. My Department developed the TB Herd History Risk Statement and Report in line with that proposal.

The TB herd history risk statement sets out to provide information to farmers about their own herds. It does not require farmers to do anything. It is advice which they can choose to take if they wish to reduce the risk of their herd to TB. DAFM bases its policy and advice on the science - there is a large body of independent robust scientific research on how TB infects cattle, which must continue to be the basis of disease policy and advice. It is by acknowledging the science of how TB spreads between cattle that will help us eradicate this disease.

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