T4. Dr Aiken asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs when he proposes to publish the Strategic Investment Board's report into the TB Strategic Partnership Group, which was commissioned well over a year ago. (AQT 504/22-27)

I thank the Member for his question. That report has been received, and I have read it. We have shared it with former members of the TB Eradication Partnership (TBEP), as far as I am aware. I will double-check whether they have received it. I am happy to share it with the AERA Committee, if that would be appropriate and people would be happy for me to share it in that way. I am happy for it to be shared.

The Minister will be aware of some of the changes in views on bovine TB that have been coming from DEFRA. Has the Minister been involved in any conversations on that? That is related to the answer that you just gave me on where we are with bovine TB. Will we adopt an approach similar to that adopted by DEFRA?

The issue of bovine TB is serious and causes me concern, not primarily in a financial sense, although it is a real factor in the pressures on my Department. The concern that I have is about the mental health impact that it has on farmers. A TB breakdown has a significant impact on a family business, so we need to take action. I am meeting Minister McConalogue on Friday in Dublin to discuss what they are doing and what we are looking to undertake.

When the new Chief Veterinary Officer, Brian Dooher, took up office in April, I commissioned him to undertake a quick review of where we are on the issue. We are approaching a point in the next number of months, hopefully in October or November, where we will announce the way forward. I am cognisant of the developments that have taken place in England, and I will make announcements further to those.

Let me be clear in concluding: I take the issue very seriously. It is important that whatever we do not only is guided by evidence and science but takes into account the impact that it has on farmers across Northern Ireland.