Vol. 429 No. 4
30 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to the fact that current rules in relation to the allocation of herd numbers have the effect of preventing substantial numbers of cattle from qualifying for the male beef premium; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Herd numbers are issued in the interests of disease control and the criteria used principally specify independent management of the holding, separate housing, testing facilities and fodder, and without the possibility of intermixing with any other herd.
I do not accept that current rules in relation to the allocation of herd numbers have the effect of preventing substantial numbers of cattle from qualifying for the male beef premium. Indeed there is a broad similarity between the criteria for the allocation of herd numbers and the eligibility criteria for livestock premia.
It should also be noted that the relevant EC Commission Regulations lay down detailed rules for applying the Integrated Administration and Control System for Community aid schemes and places an obligation on member states to prevent the conversion of existing holdings or the creation of holdings which might lead to the avoidance of the provisions relating to individual limits on eligibility for premia.
