Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2004
123 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will consider a mechanism which would allow marts to permit anyone representing family members to bid for stock on their behalf without registering as an agent. [15844/04]
View answerThe reason for recording the involvement of agents in cattle movement transactions is to ensure that there is a complete record of the traceability of each animal. The integrity of the Irish cattle identification and tracing system is too important to put at risk by relaxation of this requirement. However, my Department already takes a pragmatic view in regard to occasional transactions, three or four times a year, on behalf of a family member, friend or neighbour and distinguishes between such transactions and those by persons who are engaged in this activity on a regular basis as a business. In this regard, the registration and approval requirement is aimed at the latter and not the former.
