Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 4

Written Answers. - Cattle Traceability.

Dan Neville

Question:

192 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position which has led to the closure of the first national centre for computerised traceability of cattle movements at Kilfinane, County Limerick; the plans, if any, he has for continuing this procedure; the reason he has decided to close the facility; if he will consider the continuance of this facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4071/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The service provided at Kilfinane was data processing of cattle movement notification forms completed by farmers and dealers in respect of bovine animals sold privately after 28 September 1998. It represented one element only of the national programme for the computerised traceability of cattle movements.

The background to the issue is that in mid January 1999, my Department was given notice by the company involved of cessation of data entry operations at Kilfinane. This situation arose due to difficulties about a crucial element of the contract between the company and the Department. Prior to receipt of the notice of closure, discussions between the company and the Department had taken place over a period of several months. While all-out efforts were made to settle the matter, the reality is that the differences between the two sides were such that this was not feasible. After lengthy discussions and negotiations between the two parties the company ceased operations at Kilfinane on 12 February last.

In order to ensure that there was no interruption in the data processing service, the Department entered into negotiations with the service provider placed second in order of merit in the tendering procedure. Agreement was reached with the second placed tenderer to take over the service with immediate effect.