Debate contribution: Bovine TB

Debate contribution by Mr William Irwin on 19 November 2024.

MLA: Mr William Irwin
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 19 November 2024
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Bovine TB
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4666293

Text

I declare an interest as a partner in a livestock farm business. Bovine TB is an important issue and one that has generated significant concern for many years among the farming community in Northern Ireland. It is a battle that continues to rage, and much more could be done by the Department to drive down rates of disease effectively. Bovine TB is extremely costly to Northern Ireland, as has been said by other contributors. It cost £56 million last year and, according to the Minister, is estimated to top £60 million in the current year. Both figures are staggering amounts of money and represent a significant drain on departmental budgets. That having been said, I have a major issue with any moves to reduce the compensation paid to farmers for their impacted animals, as farmers are doing all in their power to limit the spread of the disease. Many aspects of the disease are outside their control. One concerning issue that I have spoken about consistently is the lack of perceivable and meaningful action on the eradication of bovine TB from the Department. Other regions are much more active on eradication, but, sadly, the situation in Northern Ireland has remained static for many years, and the statistics clearly show where inaction has taken us. There has not been the same momentum or enthusiasm from the Department in Northern Ireland, and there is clearly much room for progress. With the first half of 2024 having seen a 22·5% increase in reactor animals compared with the same period last year, there has never been a greater need for action. One in 10 farms has experienced TB breakdown in the past year. Those are worrying statistics, and they must focus the mind of the Department on taking meaningful action. For too long, there has been delay after delay, and, as time passes, statistics show that the problem simply gets worse. With a worsening disease scenario, the cost to the taxpayer increases even more. I agree that the situation is unsustainable. That, however, must be the call to action to drive down the spiralling incidence levels. The spiralling cost to the taxpayer must be the catalyst for change in responding to the disease. Wildlife is certainly an area in which more action is required, especially given what we know already about wildlife transmission. While there are indeed complexities in the issue of wildlife carriers, there is a need to tackle the matter and not to shy away from it. I welcome any renewed focus from the AERA Minister. I know that many farmers who have experienced TB in their herds would welcome genuine efforts to address that destructive disease.

445 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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