Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Deputy Martin Kenny, has said that the agriculture minister’s decision to call a summit to address the increasing bovine tuberculosis (TB) rates is “not before time”.
Yesterday, Minister Martin Heydon announced that he is bringing together key stakeholders to a meeting next Thursday, May 8 to discuss a reset of the TB programme aimed at addressing deteriorating TB disease levels.
The minister admitted that we have reached a “crossroads in our efforts to control and ultimately eradicate bovine TB”.
TB disease levels in recent years have increased significantly. Herd incidence has increased from 4.31% in 2022 to 6.04% in 2024, a 36% increase in the number of herds restricted between 2022 and 2024.
Deputy Martin Kenny said said: “We have seen significant increases in TB rates over the past few years, rising 36% between 2022 and 2024.
“There was a total of 41,630 reactor cattle in 2024. This has a devastating impact on farm families throughout the country. We need to get real and tackle the problem – it is not before time that the minster called this summit.
“While it is stressful enough for farmers to have to send their cattle to slaughter the department has added to that stress with the delays in paying out compensation to farmers.
“The minister says that he plans to revamp the eradication plan. While this is welcome, I hope that he listens to farmers and stakeholders at this summit and takes on board what they have to say,” Kenny added.
The Sinn Féin TD claimed that what the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has proposed to tackle TB thus far, is not workable for farmers but rather penalises and blames farmers for the problem.
“There can be no reduction in compensation rates, and we cannot have a situation where herds are in prolonged restrictions and the blacklisting of farmers with herd restriction categorisation,” Kenny continued.
“I hope that the minister invites farmers and stakeholders from the north to this summit as TB does not stop at the border.
“TB is a serious issue for famers in the north just as it is here. We need an all-Ireland approach to eradicating TB.”
