Ulster Unionist Agriculture Spokesperson Jo-Anne Dobson has called upon the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to stamp out her Department's culture of unjustifiably blaming farmers for continuing incidences of TB.
Further evidence of the Department’s mentality was seen at this week’s meeting of Agriculture and Rural Development Committee at Stormont when, responding to questioning on TB Compensation, a senior DARD official implied that the presence of Bovine TB within herds effectively suited some farmers.
The senior DARD official went on to suggest a culture of fraud amongst farmers in relation to compensation arrangements, insinuating that the farming industry was in no hurry to see Bovine TB eradicated given what he saw as the generous compensation arrangements in place.
The Upper Bann Ulster Unionist MLA said: “The vast majority of farmers will rightly take grave exception to these comments and any suggestion whatsoever that dishonest intentions are common throughout the industry."
“I was taken aback to hear these views expressed, but not surprised. It has been known for some time that officials within DARD have followed a policy of continually pointing the finger of blame at farmers for all the problems within their Department – this culture must stop.”
“My UUP colleague Robin Swann and I both took exception to the comments, branding them immediately as ‘ridiculous.’”
“In relation to Bovine TB, most farmers would take their long established, healthy and disease free animals any day over compensation and until DARD take tangible steps to once and for all eradicate TB from our local herds they need to think carefully before altering compensation arrangements following an outbreak of this disease. Farmers have made this quite clear to the Department during their recent consultation period.
Robin Swann MLA said “With TB herd detection rates reportedly on the rise, it is a source of concern to farmers that there is no commitment to eradicate TB contained within the draft Programme for Government; many within the sector believe this is a sign of DARD’s lack of vision on tackling the problem.”
Mrs Dobson concluded: “Following the Committee meeting I have written directly to the Agriculture Minister to raise my concerns about the views expressed and have challenged her to either bring forward all or any evidence which she or her officials may have to back up these claims. If no substantive evidence exists then she should immediately issue guidance notifying officials that the use of such language and insinuations are completely unacceptable.”