§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with the Government of the Irish Republic in respect of the interaction between badgers and tuberculosis in cattle; and if he will make a statement. [19826]
§ Mrs. BrowningOn 7 February, I visited Dublin for discussions with Mr. Deenihan, Minister of State at the Irish Department of Agriculture, to discuss Irish policy in relation to badgers and bovine tuberculosis and in particular to learn of the project which had been undertaken in East Offaly. I found those discussions extremely helpful and will be reflecting on them in the658W context of the consultations I am currently undertaking on our policy for the control of tuberculosis in cattle.