Minister Heydon gets approval from Cabinet to address current high levels of bovine TB
- Published on: 24 June 2025
- Last updated on: 25 June 2025
At a meeting of Cabinet today the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, updated colleagues on current bovine TB disease levels and of his plans to address the deteriorating disease situation and the impact on farmers and their families.
Following extensive discussions at the TB Forum, the Minister met TB stakeholders on 8 May and farming organisations on 22 May with a view to agree an action plan for bovine TB.
The Minister said:
“I am pleased to have the approval and support of my government colleagues to address the current high level of bovine TB. I updated them on current TB disease levels and my recent engagement with stakeholders. There is a real appetite amongst all stakeholders to address the rise in bTB levels in recent years and to reduce the impact this disease is having on farm families throughout the country, on rural economies and on the national exchequer.”
Emphasising the importance of examining all available means in combatting current disease levels, Minister Heydon said:
“Through my discussions with stakeholders I was keen to emphasise the importance of utilising best veterinary and scientific advice based on research and applying this effectively through the bovine TB programme. The scale of what is required to get on top of this disease should not be underestimated and I advised my government colleagues of the extent of what is required to tackle this disease. Applying the best scientific research and advice to the bovine TB programme is paramount as we navigate a route to stopping the increase in disease levels, reducing disease levels and ultimately look once again towards the goal of eradication.”
Moving forward the Minister said any changes to the bTB programme will support and enable farm families who are currently dealing with the stress of a bTB outbreak to navigate a way out of bTB restriction and protect those herds currently free from bTB from the stress of a bTB outbreak:
“My ambition with the bovine TB programme is to protect all farm families, those who are dealing with a bovine TB outbreak and those who are trying to keep their herds free from bovine TB. The support of my government colleagues in moving forward with the bovine TB programme is important in facilitating all stakeholders in the agri-food industry to collectively get on top of this disease and I would like to thank my government colleagues for their engagement and support today. This is an important step in resetting our approach to controlling and managing this disease.”
Concluding Minister Heydon said:
“Due to the high disease situation, I want to move quickly to refine the TB programme and reduce the impact of TB on farmers, their families and rural Ireland.”