Debate contribution: Bovine Tuberculosis
Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew Muir
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 28 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Bovine Tuberculosis
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5762201
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Bovine TB remains a top priority, and I am pleased to advise that good progress has been made recently on a number of key actions agreed in the blueprint for eradication. Those actions, which are being taken forward with the TB partnership steering group, include further increased use of interferon gamma testing, with criteria for the mandatory use of those tests now in place; the appointment of Veterinary Resources NI (VRNI) to provide vet-led, on-farm biosecurity advice, with the first visits expected to commence in November; agreement on new criteria for the establishment of alternative control herds; and a consultation, which is under way, on the proposed deployment of wildlife intervention options in Northern Ireland. I encourage those with an interest in controlling TB to consider the consultation and submit their views. Officials have continued to advance the innovative regionalisation initiative that was jointly launched in February 2026 by the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, Martin Heydon, and me to address the growing impact of bovine TB on farms in a cross-border pilot research area. I am pleased to note that that project in the north-west is progressing well. Further actions planned over the coming months include the introduction of post-movement testing; additional measures aimed at improving bTB testing; and providing farmers with greater access to information on their herd’s bTB history to inform potential purchasers of their animals.
232 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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