Edwin Poots is to give farmers the green light to kill thousands of badgers over bovine TB just a week after a new study published by the British Veterinary Association found it doesn't work.
The contentious announcement comes just days before he finishes his term as Agriculture Minister.
Analysis of UK government data on the impact of badger culling on bovine tuberculosis in cattle in a high-risk area of England between 2009–2020 "failed to identify a meaningful effect of badger culling on bTB in English cattle herds" with the paper's authors concluding the "findings may have implications for the use of badger culling in current and future bTB control policy".
Read more: Proposed badger cull protest held at Stormont
The research was shared in the BVA's peer-reviewed medical journal the Veterinary Record.
Belfast Live has seen copies of the statement Minister Poots is to make at the Northern Ireland Assembly today from two sources.
In it he outlines his " intention to introduce a programme of badger intervention in areas of high TB incidence, initially through a cull of badgers".
He will go on to say: " I am aware, however, that this is extremely emotive matter, with strongly held positions on both sides of the debate.
"I want to assure you that I have considered the options presented to me, the scientific evidence, the experience of other jurisdictions, the robust analysis of the necessary business case, the responses to last summer’s consultation and the environmental reports.
"Following this consideration I have decided that the most cost effective and practical way forward is to implement a limited cull of badgers in specific intervention areas where there is a high incidence of TB breakdown and a high density of badgers.
" It is my intention that this should be delivered broadly on the model deployed in England of shooting of badgers by skilled and trained operatives, deployed through bodies established and led by farmers.
"DAERA will oversee and manage this. We will identify intervention areas and invite applications from farmer led bodies that have the necessary resources and expertise. Shooters will be required to undergo specific training. DAERA will carry out ongoing monitoring and evaluation, ensuring that high welfare standards are adhered to.
"This is not the wholescale removal of badgers across Northern Ireland. It is not the eradication of badgers.
"It is not a shooting free for all, and it is not anti-badger. It is a targeted intervention, limited specifically to those areas where badgers may be playing a significant role in the maintenance of bTB in cattle."
Many protested the proposed move when it was first mooted by Minister Poots, with protests held at Stormont.
A vet, politicians and the public also urged DAERA to reconsider proposed plans to kill healthy badgers in TB zones.
Independent MLA Alex Easton is calling for a judicial review saying he is horrified by the move.
Mr Easton told Belfast Live: "It is incredible that in 2022 with all the research we have to show that badger culls do not protect the countryside or cows from TB, that Edwin Poots has decided this is a good idea.
"The slaughter of our beautiful and protected badgers is an anathema, it is cruel and unnecessary, it is distasteful and I personally find the whole thing disgusting and heartbreaking.
"We should be doing all we can to protect the Northern Ireland badger population, not slaughtering them in some useless attempt to curb TB in cows.
"I would ask Northern Ireland to join my voice and stand against this badger cull Mr Poots is now planning to put in action, together we must have our voices heard for the animals who have no voices, for our badgers who will be culled for no good reason."
Green Party NI MLA Rachel Woods has slammed the proposed cull.
The North Down MLA said: "The Minister is proposing that badgers will be shot in ‘specific intervention areas’ as part of his TB Strategy, but there is no detail on how this will be monitored properly.
“The Minister’s proposals are cruel and absolutely unacceptable. Culling is not humane. Culling badgers is not the answer to the problems of TB.
“The Minister claims that the badger cull will reduce Bovine TB in cattle, but the evidence begs to differ. The UK Government’s own Independent Expert Panel branded controlled shooting ‘ineffective’ and ‘inhumane’. The science says that there is no robust evidence at all that the policy is working in England, so the fact that the Minister is proposing a model similar to England is frankly, bizarre.
“Most experts agree that culling is ineffective and that cattle measures such as better testing and infection control are key to reducing TB in cattle. We only need to look at Wales for other options to be considered, that do not include killing healthy animals.
“We need better biosecurity, more reliable testing and movement controls. Rather than cruel and ineffective mass culling, restrictions on cattle movement and contact between badgers and cattle should be given high priority, in addition to greater efforts to introduce a vaccination programme.
“It shows a shocking disregard for animal welfare, flies in the face of scientific evidence on the spread of bovine TB and undermines the so-called protection of protected species.”
Wild Justice and Northern Ireland Badger Group say they are preparing to challenge the propsoed badger cull through the courts.
You can support their fundraiser at https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/northern-ireland-badgers/
Read more: Badger group warns farmers of "growing anger" over bovine TB mass cull proposals
Read more: 'Badgers should be vaccinated for bovine TB not killed'
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