Brendan Howlin
Ceist:96 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the plans he has with regard to the introduction of electronic tagging for cattle farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23397/00]
Written Answers. - Electronic Tagging.
I have no plans to introduce electronic tagging of cattle at this stage. However, I am closely monitoring developments in this area and in particular the evaluation projects being carried out by the EU Commission in a number of member states.
I have also engaged Teagasc to undertake specific evaluation of electronic bolus identification in parallel with and as a contribution to the Commission project. It is the commission's intention that the outcome of this trial will inform Community policy in regard to the use of electronic identification in the future. For this reason it is not intended that we would commit nationally to any programme in this field until the commission has reported and made its recommendations.