PRESS RELEASE

26 March 2009

PAC/10/08/09

SPOTLIGHT PUT ON BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS TESTING

The issue of the bovine tuberculosis testing programme will take centre stage today at the Public Accounts Committee meeting. The meeting, which will take place at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (DARD) campus at Greenmount College, Antrim, will take evidence in public on the control of the disease.

PAC Chairperson, Mr Paul Maskey MLA said, “One of DARD’s aims is to improve the health status of our livestock.

“However, from 1997, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of Bovine TB in our livestock herds, rising from just under 5% in 1997 to a peak of some 13% in 2002. By 2007, herd prevalence had reduced to just under 7% which is still significantly higher than the 1997 level.

“The bovine tuberculosis surveillance programme, implemented by DARD to address this disease, has cost almost £200 million in the ten years to March 2006.

“The Committee is looking forward to cross examining the Department on this programme, with a particular focus on its testing procedures. We are also interested in what the Department is doing to combat the spread of the disease, its compliance with EU regulations, its compensation scheme and its enforcement programme.”

ENDS.

Notes to Editor:

1 The meeting will be held on Thursday, 26 March 2009, at 2.00pm in the Manor Suite, Greenmount CAFRE, Antrim in public session.

2 The relevant NIAO report is Control of Bovine Tuberculosis in Northern Ireland NIA 92/08-09 published on 18 March 2009.

3 Standing Orders under Section 60(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 have provided for the establishment of the Public Accounts Committee (the Committee). The main statutory function of the Committee is to consider accounts and the reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland (C&AG) laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly.

4 The PAC Committee members are:-

Alliance	Mr Trevor Lunn
Democratic Unionist Party	Mr Jim Shannon 6
	Mr Jonathan Craig
	Mr George Robinson 7
	Mr Jim Wells 3,4,5
Sinn Fein	Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson) 2
	Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Social Democratic and Labour Party	Mr John Dallat Mr Thomas Burns 1
Ulster Unionist Party	Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Progressive Unionist Party	Ms Dawn Purvis

1 With effect from 04 March 2008 Mr Thomas Burns replaced Mr Patsy McGlone.
2 With effect from 20 May 2008 Mr Paul Maskey replaced Mr John O'Dowd.
3 With effect from 1 October 2007 Mr Mickey Brady replaced Mr Willie Clarke.
4 With effect from 21 January 2008 Mr Ian McCrea replaced Mr Mickey Brady.
5 With effect from Tuesday 27 May 08 Mr Jim Wells replaced Mr Ian McCrea.
6 With effect from Monday 15 September 08 Mr Jim Shannon replaced Mr David Hilditch.
7 With effect from Monday 15 September 08 Mr George Robinson replaced Mr Simon Hamilton.

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Debra Savage,
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Email: debra.savage@niassembly.gov.uk Website archive.niassembly.gov.uk