Animal Diseases
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-14
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Martin Heydon (FG), Kildare South

I thank Deputy Roche for raising this important matter. The bovine TB programme has been a key priority for me since I took office. I am very aware of the financial and emotional challenges for Irish farmers, their families and the communities in which they live when there is a bovine TB breakdown. It is a difficult disease to control and eradicate, as we know, but it can be done and has been done in other countries.
I launched the Bovine TB Action Plan: Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland in September 2025, following extensive engagement with stakeholders. It includes five key pillars and 30 actions underpinned by scientific research and veterinary expertise. On 13 April, a number of changes were introduced to animal testing and animal movement requirements. These include the removal of the post-movement test option for all cows and for males over 36 months of age; all dairy cows moving into a breeding herd requiring a 30-day pre-movement test; 30-day pre-movement testing for contract-reared heifers; the introduction of mandatory gamma interferon test, known as GIF testing, in large breakdowns of breeding herds, which will apply to herds with a restriction on or after 13 April 2026; and a restriction on sale of exposed cohorts where a GIF test is carried out in larger breeding herds for a period of time, and this will apply to herds in restriction on or after 13 April 2026. These changes were introduced to reduce the transmission of bovine TB from cattle to cattle. A reduction in bovine TB levels in breeding herds, especially dairy herds, is a key element in driving down bovine TB levels nationally. In simple terms, every measure in this is there for a reason. It is backed by science and it is targeting where the spread of disease has been the biggest contributor.
I also established a new bovine TB helpline for farmers who enter a new TB breakdown. This helpline will provide practical support and advice to farmers on the bovine TB breakdown process. This week a new on-farm badger biosecurity scheme has been opened for applications. I have put €6 million towards it to support farmers with simple practical on-farm interventions, such as fencing off badger setts and raising water troughs. These will have a significant impact and I am financially supporting farmers to make these interventions. It will put a bit of power back in their hands as well because farmers regularly feel pretty powerless when it comes to a potential bovine TB outbreak.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:56+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-14