Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 23 Apr 1998

Vol. 490 No. 1

Written Answers - Angus Cattle Society.

John V. Farrelly

Ceist:

23 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the cost incurred by his Department in providing the secretarial service for the Irish Angus Cattle Society; the number of shows attended by the staff of his Department for each of the years from 1995 to 1997; if the society is entitled to have free transfer to its herd book of animals registered with the Irish Angus Cattle Society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9393/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The secretariat for the Irish Angus Cattle Society is provided by my Department on a selffinancing basis. The costs recouped from the society include pension contributions and overheads. This amounted to £24,672 in 1997.

The number of shows, sales and exhibitions attended by my staff, on behalf of the society, for the years in question is as follows: 1995, seven; 1996, nine; 1997, nine. Given that the council of the Irish Angus Cattle Society is responsible for all policy decisions and directions in relation to the business of the society, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any free transfer incentive the society may offer to breeders in respect of animals registered in other EU approved herd books such as that maintained by the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society. I am not aware of any rules that would prohibit such an arrangement.