99. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 404 of 14 July 2015 for an update on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40864/15]

The BVD Implementation Group has concluded that early removal of PI animals is essential for the success of the industry led Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) eradication programme. In view of this, earlier this year, my Department wrote to farmers who had retained PI animals stating that it was expected that some movement controls aimed at protecting the vast majority of clear herds would be introduced in the course of 2015. In June 2015, officials from my Department commenced issuing Restriction Notices to farmers who were retaining PI animals born before 2015. Having regard to the importance placed by the BVD Implementation Group on the early removal of PI animals, it was decided that the movement controls should be as restrictive as possible. In the near future, restriction notices will be issued to herdowners that are retaining PI animals born in 2015.

I would like to emphasise that officials from the regional veterinary office of my Department have been in contact with the herdowner concerned by telephone several times and have also visited him with a view to resolving the issue.