I want to raise the issue of the TB strategy 2030 which is committed to in the programme for Government. Separately, it seems the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has gone ahead and issued correspondence to livestock owners across the country in recent weeks. Farmers are very concerned about this correspondence. They feel it devalues the status of the entire herd. The unsigned correspondence allows them to identify the TB status of other herd owners if they bought cattle from them and it also points out cattle that were in their herd the last time they had reactors and suggests to them that they should be culled. That is even making a statement of confidence in the Department's own test. Was this approved by any Minister with responsibility for agriculture? Can it be revisited so that farmers can have confidence? They are very concerned at the way this TB plan would be published.

I will have to discuss that with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I will ask him to make contact with the Deputy. I am not aware whether he sanctioned that or whether it emerged prior to his arrival as Minister. The Deputy is referring to the TB plan, which suggests a very operational plan developed at operational level. I will engage with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.