Vol. 486 No. 5
59 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the problems associated with the new tagging system for calves and the delay in supplying farmers with appropriate tags; and the steps, if any, he intends to take to resolve this problem. [2923/98]
Mullinahone Co-op commenced distribution of the current automatic supply of eartags to farmers from early in January. As was the case of supply in 1996 and 1997, farmers in the main dairying counties in the southern part of the country are receiving tags first. All farmers who under the predictive system used are deemed to require supplies of tags will receive tags within the next few weeks. In addition my Department has made a special arrangement with Mullinahone Co-op whereby they are producing an emergency supply of tags on their premises in Mullinahone. Under this arrangement, tags can be supplied to farmers who demonstrate an urgent need to move calves born on the holding to sale or on animal health-welfare grounds. This arrangement is working well and has enabled prompt supply of tags to farmers to meet their immediate needs.
