asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if pre-movement testing for trade in livestock within the State has failed in terms of identifying the disease problems in herds and also in terms of protecting the ultimate purchaser of stock; if he will consider its total abolition; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I would not agree that pre-movement testing for the domestic trade has failed to identify disease problems and to protect purchasers of livestock. On the contrary, since its introduction in 1978 the pre-movement test has been an essential element in the fight against bovine TB and brucellosis. Not alone has it identified hundreds of diseased herds and animals annually but it has also prevented disease spread to many more herds, thereby avoiding severe hardship for the herdowners concerned. In common with all other arrangements under the disease eradication schemes, the role of the pre-movement tests is kept under continual review.