Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2004
246 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the inspection of a herd of a person (details supplied) will be postponed until after Christmas 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32992/04]
View answerEU regulations require detailed checks regarding identification and registration of animals.
These applicants were selected randomly for on-farm inspection under the 2004 suckler cow premium scheme and were notified in writing of the inspection intended for 25 November 2004. They sought deferment of the inspection because one joint applicant was over 80 years old and the other was ill. When my Department proposed to them the date of 10 December 2004 for carrying out the inspection that had been deferred originally, an open-ended medical certificate was submitted in respect of the younger joint applicant which stated that she was unable to engage in physical work and submission of the herd register and the passports of the relevant cattle before 10 December was promised. On receipt of the register and passports, however, it was not possible to complete an inspection attempted on 10 December.
My Department faces a difficulty in this case in that the inspection must be completed notwithstanding that an open-ended medical certificate has been submitted. In order to resolve this difficulty, my Department proposes as an exceptional measure to offer to the joint herd owners an inspection in early January 2005. My Department will contact the joint herd owners with this offer.
