Debate contribution: Bovine Tuberculosis

Debate contribution by Mr John Blair on 27 April 2026.

MLA: Mr John Blair
Party at the time: Alliance Party
Date: 27 April 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Bovine Tuberculosis
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5508719

Text

I thank those who have moved the motion and the amendment. I will address the motion in my capacity as a member of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, but I am also mindful of my role as chair of the all-party group on animal welfare in the Assembly. The statistics, some of which are in the text of the motion, continue to speak for themselves. Bovine TB remains at an unacceptably high level in Northern Ireland. As Members have said, it is not solely a cattle issue; it affects the rural economy, food security, the resilience of agri-food supply chains and the welfare of livestock and wildlife. It also has a profound impact on farmers' mental health and well-being, as well as that of their families. For farming families, we know that the issue is deeply personal. Behind every statistic is a farmer who is dealing with uncertainty, stress and financial loss. In many cases, they are seeing animals that they have bred and cared for being removed from their herd. Even for those not currently facing a breakdown, the constant fear of one arriving at the doorstep takes a real psychological toll. That is why it is important that action move towards a more structured and evidence-based approach, and that is exactly what the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has undertaken since taking office. The publication of the TB Partnership Steering Group's blueprint for eradication is a significant development that has already been welcomed in the Chamber today. The blueprint is based on three core pillars: people, cattle and wildlife. That emphasises how no single solution can address the issue. The Department is also progressing a bovine TB eradication transformation programme that supports the blueprint's implementation and the broader strategic effort to control the disease. Those steps are welcome, as is the recognition that the issue requires partnership working across government, industry and science. The additional all-island focus, including support through the Shared Island initiative, is also important, given the cross-border nature of disease risk and the benefits of cooperation on research, surveillance and eradication measures. Those plans and programmes must now be matched by decisive delivery. If we are serious about eradication, we need action that is science-led, evidence-based and proportionate. That includes strengthening biosecurity, improving cattle controls where necessary, supporting farmer awareness and addressing wildlife intervention in a way that is effective, responsible and informed by the best available evidence. For Alliance, any response must also be mindful of animal welfare and ethical standards. We must avoid making false choices between protecting cattle, supporting farmers and safeguarding wildlife. A serious strategy should be capable of doing all three. The Alliance Party supports the need for urgent and effective action on bovine TB. The intent and sentiment behind the motion and the amendment are therefore entirely understandable. The common enemy is bovine TB. Farmers, policymakers, veterinarians and all others involved must work together to deliver an eradication strategy that is credible and science-led and is capable of reducing disease, protecting livelihoods and improving outcomes for public health, animal welfare and environmental sustainability. We are therefore happy to support the motion and the amendment.

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

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