Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 7

Written Answers. - Beef Quality Assurance Scheme.

Johnny Brady

Question:

51 Mr. J. Brady asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress, if any, achieved to date in implementing the national beef assurance scheme; when all the elements of the scheme will be fully in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10994/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The position is that good progress has been made on all aspects of the national beef assurance scheme.

As the Deputy will be aware, a comprehensive cattle identification and registration system is already in place. A tracing system has been introduced and is already operational in relation to private sales and 60 per cent of livestock marts. To date some 800,000 individual animal movements have been recorded. This month, we have commenced the roll-out of the system to export meat plants and it is expected that the system will be fully in place later this year.

Drafting of the Bill to put the national beef assurance scheme on a statutory footing and to,inter alia, underpin the standards to be applied by farmers, meat factories etc. is proceeding. It is hoped that the Bill will be finalised in the near future, following which it will be presented to Government seeking authorisation to present it to the Dáil and to circulate it to Deputies.