The newly announced TB strategy will not succeed unless it is on the basis of mutual co-operation and fair play for all farmers, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) has cautioned.

ICSA animal health chair Hugh Farrell was reacting to news that the Department of Agriculture had reached broad agreement with all parties about the way forward on TB eradication.

“ICSA has engaged with the TB Forum from the start on the basis that we are all in this together. A minority of farmers cannot be sacrificed and that’s why ICSA is insisting on fair compensation in all cases,” Farrell said.

“There are a wide range of representatives on the TB Forum but the key stakeholders are farmers and this must never be forgotten.”

Funding

While there is agreement on the need to eradicate TB, the ICSA is insisting that the programme needs to be adequately funded.

“ICSA believes that the setting up of implementation groups can help but we will not accept farmer representative exclusion from the groups. Farm organisations can bring expert insights to these and it will be vital that their deliberations are informed by practical and real understanding of the issues.”

Issues

Among the ICSA’s demands are that all reactors are removed within seven days. It also wants the first herd test following a TB breakdown takes place sixty days after a reactor is discovered, rather than removed as the farmer has no control over this.

“We will also be insisting that the issues with wildlife are dealt with in a comprehensive manner and it is not good enough to turn a blind eye to the role of deer,” Farrell concluded.

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