Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 7

Written Answers. - Herd Numbers.

Ulick Burke

Question:

172 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the campaign being carried out by his Department of investigating husbands and wives who are farming in their own right and who have one herd number withdrawn and are being forced to amalgamate farming activities; if officials of his Department require exhaustive lists of, in many cases, confidential documents to prove separate farming; if this is an invasion of privacy; if his attention has been drawn to the State's equality policy and the relevant legislation; if he has satisfied himself that his staff are complying with this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9575/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The granting of a herd number is based solely on the interests of disease control and is an administrative arrangement for the purpose of testing cattle. Among the criteria for granting a herd number are that the applicant must have separate facilities, the herd must be managed at all times as a separate unit, that is separate farm equipment, housing, fodder, management and without intermixing with animals from other herds. In particular circumstances relevant documentation is sought from a prospective herdowner in evaluating any application for a herd number.

The disease control regulations which are in the interests of our animal health status are applied without discrimination in the interests of all herdowners. I am satisfied that the arrangements for granting of herd numbers is in accordance with equality and other legislation.