Danny Healy-Rae presses minister on TB testing and Storm Owen aid

Minister, first of all, thank you for coming here again this evening, and I suppose I'll just start with the debate finished in relation to Storm Owen and the SIDS. Is Storm damaged caused by Storm Owen? The SIDS now is that closed? So, I opened a special tranche, especially for those who were impacted by Storm Owen. I opened it for two weeks. It was emergency tranche seven. It closed on the 28th of March. 1,945 farmers applied. They're being issued with letters. Now, I announced last week that 100% of those applications were going to be approved and funded, so no one was left behind. Everyone who applied under the backup generators, the fencing and the multi-shippers will be covered. Thanks, Minister, for that. That was very needed. Minister, I suppose we spoke about TB earlier here inside, and like all farmers, and I'm one as well, we're actually terrified of what's coming in relation to TB, the new testing and what will follow on after that. And we've had one of the things I raised earlier was that that if you, you know, even three years after you became clear, or after three tests, your name will still, a description of your, what happened to your head, you know, back so far, will be placed on the map, on the screen, describing the animal, where it comes from, and that the market will be limited, limited in that will be, you know, the animals will only be fit for, you know, for feed lots or for the factory, or whatever. And we're all terrified of that, because that, that will mean a reduction in price. It's a case of the bite your lip, but people are very worried about that. And why does it have to follow on so long after getting clear? That's one question. And the other question, what happens at that meeting? Is it sold to the consumers the same as? No. What becomes it? If it's a reactor, it's not. Sorry. No, but they're clear at this stage. No, if it's clear, yeah. Yeah, they're clear after, but the market will only be limited in, you can either go to the factory, fellas, when they'll see that you had a record, you know, the same as if you broke the law 20 years ago, and you wanted to get a job as a school teacher or something now, the record is there. Is that, how long is that going to be? The record is there. Is that, how long is that going to stay on the record? So first of all, in relation to the engagement I've had with all stakeholders and all of the farm organisations, I've taken on board a very concern you talk about. What I would say most farmers are petrified about is actually, first of all, having a reactor and a breakdown in their herd, even more than what you've just outlined. But I absolutely understand there is the concern around that. I'm reflecting on those points that have been concerned, that have been raised around herd categorisation, and I'm trying to see what solution we can come up to that can address some of those concerns. But also acknowledge that there is a significant cohort of animals out there who are much higher risk, who percentage-wise have a much greater likelihood of developing bovine TB down the line. Those animals freely being traded and moving around the country is largely what has contributed a significant proportion to the increase in the spread of this. My time is kind of going, Minister. What about herds that don't buy in? Dairy farmers generally don't buy in. They're rare, their own. That's what they've been doing. And at the same time, we're being told that they're the ones that are going down, they're prevalent, they're more likely to have, we'll say, a breakdown of TB rather than beefers that are buying in more often. I say to you, Minister, that's called by badgers and deer spreading the disease. In some instances, yes. Well, I think you need to place more emphasis on that aspect of it. Will you consider this man here doesn't buy in? That's fine. But let me just say, we'll place as much emphasis on where the problem areas are. But that does not mean turn our back on one area where there is disease seeding out that we can ignore. There are three causes of the spread of bovine TB. You're right. One of them is wildlife. One of them is cattle-to-cattle transmission. And one of them is residual transmission that is left behind in the cohort who have been in close proximity to reactors and who are a much higher likelihood if, and they're, you know, particularly those females over 18 months who are going to be calved down and kept for years. So when farmers are making breeding decisions, we need them to know the risk category of the ones they are. Just one small thing. When do you expect the last acres payment that's in our books to be paid? Deputy, I need Deputy Cooney to have an opportunity. Thank you very much, sir. Thank you.