Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to meet twice for separate engagements on Re-classification of Beef Indices and Eradication of Bovine TB

The Committee will meet at 9.30am in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House with representatives from Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) to discuss the recent re-classification of Beef Indices.

The Committee will then reconvene at 5.30pm in Committee Room 3 for an Update on the Eradication of Bovine TB with representatives of the TB Forum and the Irish Deer Management Strategy Group (IDMSG).

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Jackie Cahill said: “In our morning meeting, the Committee will discuss the latest revisions to the Beef Indices which rank cattle based on their genetic quality. In recent days, farmers have raised concerns about these revisions and the Committee looks forward to discussing these and related matters with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation.

“At our evening meeting, the Committee will hear an update on the Bovine TB Eradication Programme. An outbreak of Bovine TB can cause significant financial hardship and emotional stress for farmers and farming families. Eradication of Bovine TB is critical and it is important that Department’s eradication programmes if effective and efficient. While Ireland was successful for many years in reducing the prevalence of Bovine TB, we appeared to have slipped backwards in recent years and this is concerning for all involved in the agriculture sector. It is vital that we get the TB eradication programme back on track and the Committee looks forward to discussing the latest update with our stakeholders and the potential for a cull on deer.”

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meetings in Committee Room 4 and Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.