Debate contribution: Bovine TB

Debate contribution by Ms Sian Mulholland on 19 November 2024.

MLA

Ms Sian Mulholland

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

19 November 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Bovine TB

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4666295

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I am grateful for the opportunity to address the Assembly on the issue. Rural MLAs in particular will have heard some story from one of their constituents about how horrendous the situation is, and I have seen that not least in my constituency of North Antrim. We have to approach the challenge through a balanced and science-based strategy, as other Members have said. I thank my colleague the Minister for his ongoing work and his commitment to finding solutions. Looking outside the box to find solutions is key. Bovine TB does more than threaten a herd: as others have said, it breaks bonds that have been built through generations, with every animal lost representing countless hours of care and dedication. People do not realise how important those animals can be. They are not just assets but members of the farming family, and losing them is devastating. The pain of seeing valued cattle lost, coupled with the stress of the ongoing financial pressures, is overwhelming. A farmer in my constituency told me that it was as if a black cloud had descended on his family.

We owe it to them to explore every solution that science and sound policy can offer. We have to ensure that our farmers do not feel alone in this battle and that they are provided with the support that they need to protect their herds and sustain their way of life.

With the herd incidence rates currently exceeding 10%, many farm families will have experienced at first hand the devastating impact of TB. As an Assembly, we have a duty to stand with our farmers and ensure that they have the support to fight the disease. As part of a comprehensive approach, we have to place a significant emphasis on biosecurity. Encouraging all to strengthen biosecurity is essential, and, by implementing more robust measures on our farms, we can significantly reduce the transmission of TB between cattle and limit its spread within herds. Personal responsibility plays a vital role here. Our farmers are the first line of defence in controlling TB. A balanced and considered approach to wildlife interventions is vital. Protecting our farmers, their animals and wildlife go hand in hand. All are integral to our countryside, and our policies have to reflect that balance. The Chief Veterinary Officer, Brian Dooher, was, on commencing his role, commissioned by the Minister to undertake a review of TB, including consultations with veterinary and agricultural groups, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute and our neighbouring jurisdictions. I look forward to and await the outcome of that work, which, hopefully, will provide us with a fresh and new start in the battle against bovine TB. Financial sustainability is also very much at the heart of this issue. Our control costs reached £56 million last year, with the potential to increase to £60 million this year. The financial burden is unsustainable for farmers and the Department. If we want to achieve real, lasting progress, we need a strategy that focuses on measures to reduce those mounting costs. That will not only relieve pressure on the Department but ensure a sustainable future for our agriculture sector. I acknowledge the progress made in other regions. In Wales, pre- and post-movement testing measures have been reintroduced, and those new regulations have helped to limit the spread of TB. In England, DEFRA is moving towards phasing out culling in favour of vaccination and enhanced biosecurity. Northern Ireland can learn from those examples and, hopefully, adopt practices suited to our unique needs and very unique environment. Hopefully, by embracing those best practices, we can strengthen our response to TB and tailor it to reflect the specific challenges and opportunities in this region. Minister Muir emphasised the importance of a holistic, science-led approach to managing TB. My colleague John Blair highlighted the importance of prioritising biosecurity and collaboration, and he strongly urged that we fully consider a range of solutions in order to identify the optimum solutions grounded in science. We have to support our farmers. They have long been the stewards of our countryside, and we must ensure that they know that they do not stand alone in this fight.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:37 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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