Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 5

Written Answers. - Sheep Identification Scheme.

Ulick Burke

Question:

198 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he intends to review the current sheep tagging policy; and if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties caused by its implementation. [23315/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh):

With the introduction of the national sheep identification system, Ireland has, for the first time, full traceability for all sheep on an individual animal basis. Every sheep which moves from a holding within the State or which is imported into the State and every sheep carcass processed in any of our processing plants is now fully and individually identified. All sheep remaining on holdings are required to be individually tagged by 15 December next. I attach great importance to this development which is of significant benefit to the sheep sector, most notably in terms of disease control, marketing and in the implementation of the relevant recommendations of the sheepmeat forum.

Having regard to the various requirements which it has been designed to address, the NSIS system is simple to understand and operate. It avails of opportunities offered by modern technology and is also cost efficient from the perspec tives of flock owners, processors, tag suppliers, the Department and purchasers of Irish sheepmeat. I accept that it does impose a measure of additional work on flock owners and others, but this will be the case with any worthwhile system of identification and traceability. I regard such extra effort as an investment in the future of the sector and in its capacity to meet the requirements of markets and ever more discerning consumers. It should also be recognized that individual identification provides the flock owner with a valuable management tool, a fact which has been publicly recognized by a number of flock owners since NSIS became operational.

My Department is monitoring the implementation of NSIS on an ongoing basis and will address any significant difficulties should they arise. I am pleased to report that the system generally is working well and that sheep presented in marts and factories are properly tagged and documented. I look forward to full compliance by flock owners with the requirement that all sheep remaining on holdings are tagged no later than 15 December next.

It is worth pointing out that to date more than eight million tags have been issued by approved suppliers to almost 40,000 flock owners. While I regard the introduction of NSIS as a major achievement, I regard it as a system which can be built upon and which can evolve in line with technological advances and the requirements of the sector as a whole.