asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if farmers will be allowed to dispose of their calves without an identity card, as they are being held up because cards are not being issued by veterinary officers due to the backlog of work after the recent strike.

The answer is no. Under the provisions of the Bovine Tuberculosis (Attestation of the State) Order, 1965, the only animals which may be exposed at a public sale are attested cattle in respect of which identity cards have been issued by the Minister, attested cattle not more than six weeks old which have not undergone a test and cattle moved into the State from Northern Ireland under permit issued by the Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland.