Vol. 492 No. 1
14 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will allow his officials to facilitate the running of all the cattle societies to assist the further development of all of the breeds in question in the same way as they are involved in the running of the Irish Angus Society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13386/98]
My Department provides a basic secretariat service to the Irish Angus Cattle Society, the cost of which is fully recouped from the society. This service dates from the 1960s when it was decided that the service then being provided to breeders of pedigree Angus cattle in Ireland by a Scottish-based cattle breed society was inadequate. The future development of the Irish Angus Cattle Society and the need for the service provided by my Department is currently being reviewed. I am satisfied that the best way of assisting all cattle breed societies in the development of their breeds is through the medium of the recently established Irish Cattle Breeding Federation.
In a reply to a question on 11 March 1997, the then Minister indicated that the secretariat being provided by the Department was not being adequately paid for by the society and was being subsidised. The reply stated it was being paid for but correspondence from the Department a week later said it was being subsidised and that the shortfall was being made up by the taxpayer.
Does the Minister support the Irish Angus Cattle Society's advertisement in the Irish Farmers' Journal of 11 October stating that it would give free admission to anybody in the other Aberdeen Angus herd book? Is it acceptable that Department officials being subsidised by the State are giving free membership to anybody in the other societies? If the Department is providing a service to one society, is it not right that it should do so for all societies?
This was dealt with a number of years ago because of the western counties involvement and the suitability of the animal to those counties where small farming prevailed. I am not aware of the advertisement placed in the newspaper. I will meet the new director of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation tomorrow when I will discuss the matter with him. I will also raise it with officials in the Department.
I accept the Minister will raise the matter; I do not doubt his sincerity in this regard. Will he give a commitment that if such a service is being provided to one society, the same service should be available to all societies so that there is a level playing pitch? I understand the reasons help was given to many societies in the 1960s and early 1970s but is it not fair in 1998 that all societies should be treated in the same way given the Department's involvement? When advertisements are placed in the Irish Farmers' Journal and other farming papers when shows take place, the address used by the Irish Angus Cattle Society is that of the Department of Agriculture and Food. No other society has the same address or the same facilities.
I will raise the matter at both levels. It is envisaged that in due course the ICBF will offer a broad range of products and services, including herd book registration and related services, to cattle breeding societies to assist them in their development. It is intended to help all cattle societies. I will bring the matter to the attention of the new director and the officials of the Department immediately.
Does the Minister agree the secretaries of the other societies, which have not had the facilities the Irish Angus Cattle Society has had over the years, have had to do this work free gratis to keep their societies alive?
A labour of love.
