Dan Neville
Ceist:33 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the situation regarding the national dairy herd certification scheme and the beef assurance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20694/02]
Vol. 556 No. 5
33 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the situation regarding the national dairy herd certification scheme and the beef assurance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20694/02]
The traceability elements of the national beef assurance scheme have been fully operational since 1 January 2000. It was envisaged that other elements of the scheme, in particular the inspection and approval of farms, would be undertaken this year in conjunction with the annual round of testing and detailed discussions to this end took place with the veterinary and farming representative organisations over a long period. A protocol for the conduct of the inspections was agreed. Only a small number of inspections have taken place to date, however, as a result of resistance to implementation of the scheme mainly by veterinarians whose union is seeking a centralised payment system for the costs involved.
The legislation establishing the national beef assurance scheme clearly provides that the costs of securing a certificate of approval are the responsibility of the applicant. The Exchequer has already invested in excess of €45 million in developing the traceability system that underpins the scheme and costs will continue to be incurred under this heading. The scheme is an important element in the drive to maintain and increase the marketplace in a difficult sector and I am disappointed about the impasse that has developed in relation to its implementation.