News of The Irish Deer Management Forum revival came in February this year. The forum’s renewal was spurred on by concerns over the spread of bovine TB, but this is under dispute, as according to the Irish Deer Commission: “In 2018, DAFM chief veterinary officer Eoin Ryan stated there was no evidence of a link between wild deer and the spread of TB”.
But IFA Animal Health Chair TJ Maher has said that Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue’s commitment to re-establish the National Deer Management Forum Group is a positive first step to controlling that national deer population to a sustainable level, adding that “the control of deer nationally requires a co-ordinated approach, which must include a focus on addressing the deer population surrounding TB outbreaks”.
The Animal Heath Chair commented that the deer population is causing crop and fencing damage; spread of disease; and road safety concerns across the Ireland. Once re-established, the group must move quickly to address these issues.
“The Northern Ireland open season for most species of deer is longer than ours. This is an example of an area that will need to be addressed by the Deer Management Group when the terms of reference are agreed,” he said.
“It’s important that the terms of reference are agreed as soon as possible and a chairperson with the competencies to deal with this complex issue is put in place to ensure the group gets up and running without delay”.
For more on the initiation of the Irish Deer Management Forum, see here.