Badger cull pilot for TB control
Deputy Healy-Rae asked for a pilot scheme in south Kerry to vaccinate and remove badgers to combat bovine TB. The Taoiseach said he would relay the suggestion to the Agriculture Minister, and Deputy McGrath interjected with a joke.
My question relates to the protection of farmers' incomes. Will the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine grant a pilot scheme to the people of Iveragh in south Kerry to eliminate tuberculosis by way of vaccinating and removing badgers? A total of 40 herds have gone down but it affects only 7% of the herd. The remainder of the animals in south Kerry are fine. We do not want to create a situation whereby people would not buy the other animals. Only 7% of the herd is affected. The farmers are asking for a pilot scheme to remove badgers. They firmly believe the badgers are spreading TB. They need to be culled and got out of there.
