Stakeholders have been invited to a TB Forum meeting later this month, the first since February.

The agenda will include discussion of outstanding items on its draft report. But it is also likely to discuss funding, which has been consistently raised by the IFA and was the focus of side meetings involving just the Department of Agriculture and farm bodies.

Assurance

“The forum cannot progress until farmers get assurance of funding for the additional measures proposed by the Department,” IFA animal health chair Pat Farrell said.

“Adequate funding is required for both the Department’s eradication operations and for compensation for farmers.”