Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 3

Written Answers. - Animal Identification Tags.

John Perry

Question:

104 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) in County Sligo is willing to transfer to Ireland its total production of ear tags for cattle, sheep and pigs which will create additional employment in the area; if he will grant the company the necessary authorisation to sell the tags; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13697/99]

Ivan Yates

Question:

109 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposals, if any, there are to introduce a system of choice for farmers in relation to the provision of national cattle identification whereby there would not just be one single source of ear tags, but a range of approved suppliers from which herdowners could purchase; and the situation in relation to the next tendering process for the national bovine identification system. [13759/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 109 together.

The present position is that Eurotags, Mullinahone Co-op, County Tipperary was appointed as the sole supplier of approved cattle eartags in respect of 1999 on foot of an open tendering competition conducted under national and EU procurement rules. In accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the tendering documentation issued by my Department, the contract with Eurotags covers the period 1 January 1999 to 31 December 1999 with the possibility of an extension for a maximum of two further years.

The supply arrangements for cattle eartags to apply in respect of the post 1 January 2000 period are being reviewed by my Department and will be discussed with the farming organisations at a sub-group of the Animal Health Forum in the near future.

Under EU procurement rules, all tenderers and suppliers must be treated equally irrespective of their location within the Community. In these circumstances it will be open to the County Sligo company referred to in the questions, to tender on an equal footing with other firms when the next tendering competition for the supply of cattle eartags is announced.

As regards the identification of sheep, proposals for the introduction of a system of tagging of sheep have been presented to the various respesentative bodies by my Department and consultations are now ongoing. Final decisions have not yet been taken as regards the system of tagging or the tag supply arrangements that will be put in place.

There are no current proposals to introduce a mandatory tagging system for pigs.