Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has confirmed that a meeting of the TB Stakeholder Forum will be held in the coming weeks to discuss TB eradication and the controversial letters issued to farmers by his Department.
The confirmation came as the Minister appeared on Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning, 9 September.
Minister McConalogue said: “During the last number of years we have seen some slippage in terms of positivity rates. I will be calling a meeting to engage all farm representatives in effort to turn the dial the other direction towards TB eradication.”
Testing
When asked to comment on recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in meat plants, the Minister said one of his first actions after being appointed last week was to call a meeting with Meat Industry Ireland (MII).
“The first round of serial testing will be completed in every meat plant across the country by the end of this week. It will be repeated on a two-week rolling process, with the results closely monitored by NPHET and HSE,” McConalogue said.
Inspections
The Minister also confirmed that 25 out of the 26 inspections of meat processing facilities which took place in August were unannounced.
“Unannounced inspections are the way it should be happening, and I’ll be seeking for this to continue. The public need to be assured that the precautions taken in these plants are of the highest calibre.”
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Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has confirmed that a meeting of the TB Stakeholder Forum will be held in the coming weeks to discuss TB eradication and the controversial letters issued to farmers by his Department.
The confirmation came as the Minister appeared on Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning, 9 September.
Minister McConalogue said: “During the last number of years we have seen some slippage in terms of positivity rates. I will be calling a meeting to engage all farm representatives in effort to turn the dial the other direction towards TB eradication.”
Testing
When asked to comment on recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in meat plants, the Minister said one of his first actions after being appointed last week was to call a meeting with Meat Industry Ireland (MII).
“The first round of serial testing will be completed in every meat plant across the country by the end of this week. It will be repeated on a two-week rolling process, with the results closely monitored by NPHET and HSE,” McConalogue said.
Inspections
The Minister also confirmed that 25 out of the 26 inspections of meat processing facilities which took place in August were unannounced.
“Unannounced inspections are the way it should be happening, and I’ll be seeking for this to continue. The public need to be assured that the precautions taken in these plants are of the highest calibre.”
Read more
Department defends TB risk letters
Department disconnect on TB evident in letters fiasco – IFA
Calls for Minister McConalogue to intervene in TB letter 'debacle'
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