Billy Timmins
Question:82 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his plans to amend the sheep tagging system. [3970/03]
Vol. 561 No. 3
82 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his plans to amend the sheep tagging system. [3970/03]
The European Commission has now published proposals for a harmonised system of sheep identification. This proposal is based on individual identification, use of movement documents and registers, a central database and, ultimately, electronic identification. Many of the elements in this proposal are already in place in Ireland as part of the comprehensive national sheep identification system, NSIS, introduced in June 2001. I am satisfied that all elements of NSIS are working well. I have consistently indicated that it would however be open to refinement and further development in the light of operational experience and to accommodate emerging demands and changing circumstances. In that context, the prospect of a harmonised system at EU level obviously holds potential for some change to aspects of NSIS.