asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the circumstances under which ear tags and cards are made available to private individuals for use at marts so as to provide identification for animals that may have lost their identification marks or that never had them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Identification.
8.
Official cattle identity tags are made available only to officers of my Department and to veterinary practitioners engaged in tuberculin testing and blood sampling under the bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis eradication schemes. They were also supplied to a limited extent to artificial insemination stations in connection with the warble fly eradication scheme which operated in the years 1971-1974. Cattle identity cards are made available only to officers of my Department. If the Deputy is aware of any instances where tags and cards were available to persons other than the categories I have mentioned I would be glad if he would let me have full particulars so that the matter may be investigated.