76. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will implement the new measures to tackle TB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36040/25]

Sentiment score: 0.01

I raise with the Minister the situation as regards TB, which is at crisis point across the country. I know the TB forum has set out a number of measures that have yet to be enacted. I would like to get an update on when these are going to happen. Many of these actions are difficult for farmers. When they have a reactor or their farm is locked down as a result of TB, the last thing they need is a more difficult and strenuous situation that will cause them an even greater loss. We need clarity on many of these issues because farmers are very distressed at the prospect of having to enter into a new situation where they will be further disadvantaged by losses related to TB.

Sentiment score: -0.25

To get to the issues that are of most concern to many people in the agricultural community, one of the issues farmers are concerned about is the proposal that a sign be put up at marts where there is a reactor in a herd. This would be there for quite a long time and would restrict farmers in getting a decent price for their animals. That is an issue that needs to be dealt with very sensitively. We do not want farmers to be at a disadvantage because they have had the misfortune of having TB in their herds, something which, in most cases, is not their fault. That needs to be dealt with. One of the other issues is the restrictions as to where and to whom farmers can sell their cattle. In many cases, the only option they will have is to sell to the finishing lots or the factories. This restricts the market, which will be bad for farmers. We need to understand whether there will be some way of mitigating those disadvantages for farmers. Clarity also needs to be brought to the rates of compensation farmers are going to get under this new regime so that we know exactly where we stand. On the control of animals at high risk, we understand that there are going to be restrictions and further testing. In effect, it will probably be three years after a clear test that farmers will be back to normal. I would like clarity as to where we stand as regards all of that.

Sentiment score: -0.04

I appreciate all of that. To give credit where it is due, something is being done. A crisis has been allowed to evolve over the years. What we need this morning, if we can get it, is a commitment as to when this is going to happen and clarity on those issues I raised regarding the difficulties farmers going to the market are going to have and so on. We need to see that clarity. We also need to see where the budget for this is going to come from. From a departmental point of view, it will obviously cost more to bring in these new rules and regulations and implement them properly. If they are only half-heartedly implemented, they will not work. All of us, including the Minister, understand that. That will require more resources but it will put farmers in a position where they can have confidence in the scheme. The problem we have at the moment is that farmers do not have confidence in it. They see feedlots and other things that are hit-and-miss in how well they are run and they have difficulty understanding why all the emphasis has once again been put on the farmers who find themselves in a situation where TB has spread to their farms, often through wildlife. They are the ones who feel they are being punished for it. We need clarity and we need to ensure the budget is there to ensure people can have confidence in this new scheme.

Sentiment score: 0.10