Vol. 544 No. 2
80 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his views on whether it is fair that all calf tags must be paid for; his further views on whether this represents an excessive cost for small farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28341/01]
Under arrangements negotiated with the farming organisations, my Department undertook to meet the cost of ear tags on a reducing basis between 1996 and 2001. For next year, the cost of the tags will be borne fully by herd owners. The relatively modest cost of ear tags to individual herd owners has to be seen in the context of the significant and ongoing expenditure by the Exchequer in respect of calf registrations and the monitoring of cattle movements under CMMS.
