Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Nov 1994

Vol. 446 No. 7

Written Answers. - Livestock Identification.

Ivan Yates

Question:

161 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry in the context of the implementation of European Directive No. 92/102 in relation to livestock identification in this country, if farmers will be given the choice of more than one supplier of ear tags that conform to the standard Departmental specification; in relation to tendering, if consideration will be given to the employment related to the manufacturing of such identity tags and particularly the employment consequences for Enniscorthy, County Wexford; and, in view of the fact that this new tagging system will displace all current tags used by farmers, if employment in this country will be given a priority in any such consideration. [2913/94]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

As far as the application of Directive 92/102/EEC to sheep, goats and pigs is concerned it is envisaged that all suppliers may submit their identification systems for approval and, once approved, farmers will be free to choose from any supplier.

In the case of cattle it is expected that a single supplier will be chosen by a tendering process and farmers will be required to purchase from that supplier for the duration of the contract. This matter has received detailed consideration by my Department and consultation with the farming bodies has taken place. It has been concluded that the selection of a single supplier offers the best prospect for a controllable, secure and standardised identification system. Confidence in the national bovine identification system is critical from the point of view of animal health controls and the administration of livestock premia payments.

As regard employment the position is that under EU legislation all manufacturers throughout the EU are equally entitled to tender for public contracts and it is not possible to discriminate between tenderers on the basis of where the resultant employment will be created.