asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will ensure that lambs not qualifying for mountain subsidy do not have their ears punched in future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Marking of Lambs.
2.
Lambs not accepted for subsidy, do not normally have their ears punched. In a very small percentage of doubtful cases lambs may be marked at the time of inspection pending a decision later as to their acceptance for subsidy. I do not see how this can be avoided since the lambs are inspected only once and they cannot be accepted for subsidy even provisionaly without being marked.