The South Antrim MLA stated: “The comprehensive review by the Chief Veterinary Officer including nearly 40 proposals to tackle the disease was welcome progress, as is the new bTB Partnership Steering Group which plans to publish a delivery plan by the end of March.
"The holistic approach focused on the three pillars of people, cattle and wildlife is essential and recognises that in order to drive down infection levels, we need to work together on an all-encompassing way forward.
“The Alliance Party's position on wildlife interventions is well established, taking the view that better utilisation of the test, vaccinate and remove policy in tackling bTB should eventually eliminate the need for culling.
"The reality is that we must find a more effective method to tackle these challenges than our previous approaches. We owe this to our farmers, our wildlife and livestock. I am grateful that Minister Muir is working at pace to develop a better way forward in collaboration with others.”