TB has been the talk at many meetings in recent weeks, with farmers and the Department of Agriculture locking horns over causation factors, restrictions, reactor numbers, vaccination programmes and wildlife control.

It seems there’s no escape from the debate. I was at a hurling match at the weekend, and it was the main topic of conversation over the half-time cuppa.

Then I had reason to attend a local concert, and sure enough, as we waited for the performance to start, TB reared its head again.

Aspiring TDs can expect plenty of it on their doorsteps over the coming weeks.