I want to raise the issue of TB. I want to make the point that farmers are key to our communities. They are also key to our economy.

I attended a very successful tractor run on Sunday. Large numbers were out raising funds for two local schools, Roscomroe National School and Coolderry National School, as well as a local charity called Living Links. There is huge concern regarding the TB proposals. We need to bring farmers with us and we need to protect and support them. I will quote from some of the farming organisations that have expressed concern. The deputy president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Eamon Carroll, has said he believes that the proposed measures will involve all of the TB burden being placed on farmers. The IFA's animal health chair, TJ Maher, has pointed out that the TB proposals are "crude" and suggested that the financial burden will be laid at the feet of farmers. Does the Minister accept the justified criticism? Will he go back to the drawing board and devise solutions?

I am acutely aware of the financial and emotional trauma associated with a TB breakdown and the associated hardship, as the Deputy said, for many farm families. TB disease levels in recent years have continued to increase. Over a 12-month period, a herd incidence of 6.43% has been recorded, with more than 43,000 reactors. That is a serious deterioration in the situation which we cannot allow to continue. That is why the Minister, Deputy Heydon, met with all of the key stakeholders in recent weeks and held a further meeting with farming bodies. He wants to advance proposals to try to address this in partnership with farm families and farm organisations. I can ask him to send the Deputy some of the detail regarding the additional measures he proposes to take with regard to the bovine TB programme to try to tackle the current rates of TB, which is a serious issue across the farming community.