Press release
Minister McConalogue commends the work of the TB Stakeholder Forum
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, took part in today’s 13th meeting of the TB Stakeholder Forum, where progress on the implementation of the TB Strategy was presented. The TB Stakeholder Forum brings together key stakeholders, with the common objective of reducing bovine TB levels. The Minister thanked the members of the Forum for their commitment and acknowledged the progress being made in implementing the TB Strategy.
Photo Caption: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, and Michael Cronin, Chair of the TB Stakeholder Forum.
"In January 2021, I launched the bovine TB Eradication Strategy - our shared road map to reducing bovine TB and driving towards eradication by 2030. Most of the actions set out under the current TB Strategy have now either been implemented or are advancing well towards implementation. I acknowledge the efforts of all our stakeholders in their collaborative efforts over the last year."
Recognising the impact that a TB breakdown can have on a family farm, Minister McConalogue said that he supports fully the Forum’s collaborative work on efforts at eradicating TB:
"There is an immense emotional as well as financial strain on farm families as a result of a TB breakdown.
"We all know people who have experienced a breakdown in their herds, and the effects are terrible. I am fully committed to supporting the work of the TB Forum, working together towards the eradication of this disease."
The Forum was provided with updates on the implementation of the TB Strategy, current TB disease levels, and was informed of further disease control and eradication measures being worked on.
Emphasising the importance of building on progress to date, the Minister urged stakeholders to continue developing measures which can help to eradicate TB:
“This Forum’s recommendations are key to the development of policies that can help to further reduce and ultimately eradicate TB. Some of the Forum’s recommendations are already being implemented, such as the change in policy regarding inconclusive animals, additional support for wildlife control and badger vaccination. These are reducing the number of TB reactor animals which in time, will help reduce herd incidence levels. I urge the Forum to continue its ambitious drive towards TB eradication in the coming years."