81. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the Agri-Food Regulator will be granted additional powers of compellability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36023/25]
Sentiment score: 0.09
The establishment of the Agri-Food Regulator was a very welcome move but the body clearly does not have sufficient teeth. The regulators themselves have requested additional powers. When will the body be granted additional powers of compellability and could the Minister make a statement on the matter?
Sentiment score: 0.32
I thank the Minister. It is welcome that he is in the process of granting or providing the powers but we need to see a timeline. It has been quite a while since the regulators themselves raised the gaps in their powers and it is important that we see movement on this, particularly given how grocery prices are increasing at present. Members of the public need transparency when purchasing products so they will know where their money is going. There also needs to be fairness for producers. The risk – I think this is what is happening – is that producers will not get their fair share of the value of their produce. Therefore, the information is absolutely required. It is important that the regulator can get whatever data it needs to inform its analysis of pricing. Could the Minister give me a timeline for achieving this?
Sentiment score: 0.14
In providing the additional powers, is the Minister considering the likes of the large supermarkets and their profits? Obviously, we have a cost-of-living crisis and food prices are rising continually, and farmers are continuing to get less and less for their produce. One of the pieces of the data jigsaw that is missing concerns how much supermarkets are making in this country. Supermarkets must provide their data publicly in the UK, but when they have an Irish arm they have no obligation to provide the associated data on a quarterly basis. Will the Minister consider such provision as part of the process?
Sentiment score: -0.13
82. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline his Department’s plans to deal with bovine TB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36021/25]
Sentiment score: 0.01
Can the Minister outline the Department’s plans to deal with bovine TB, which he spoke about earlier, and particularly his approach to badger culling and badger vaccination as part of that?
Sentiment score: 0.00
I do not think anyone is underestimating or minimising the absolute devastation when a farmer realises they have TB in their herd. As the Minister says, it is not just a financial but also an emotional shock and trauma for the family. The most important thing to do is put in place a system that is going to work for them. The Minister talks about being led by science. I cannot see any definitive scientific evidence to show that badgers are responsible for the spread of TB. Actually, it is the opposite. In 2022 England conducted a study on this and found there was no significant evidence to show any impact on badger TB with the herd. Indeed, Scotland has been TB-free since 2009 and they do not cull at all. If we look internationally and see where it works and where it is being done properly, badger culling does not play a part in it. It is about husbandry, stock intensity, the biosecurity measures and supporting farmers to do that. If we are being led by science, as we absolutely need to be, we must be really clear about badgers and their role, or non-role, in this. We are culling a significant number of badgers and it is not having the desired impact anyway.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I would be really keen if the Minister could send me the studies and evidence that show transmission of TB from badgers to cattle and the incidence. If a badger has TB that is not a good thing for the badger, but the Department culled nearly 7,500 badgers last year and 20% of them had TB. The culling involves snares which not only is an incredibly inhumane way for an animal to die but it is not targeted. It also kills dogs, lambs, and foxes, where they have been disemboweled or have had to chew their own leg off to get away from the snare. This is a really aggressive, inhumane way of culling. I would really like to see the evidence to show this is what is actually going to assist farmers. This programme has gone on for about 70 years now. We spend billions on this every year. We need to get it right for the farmers. The approach that has been taken to date is not getting it right. Unfortunately, it seems that badger culling is going to be a key component of the Minister's reforms going forward. I cannot see the evidence for that so I would really appreciate if he could send it to me.
Sentiment score: -0.02