I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 232 together.
A Quality Payment System (QPS) related to the beef grid was agreed between Meat Industry Ireland (MII) and the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) in 2009. The payment is based on the classification of the carcass in which a price differential is set between certain classification grades.
My understanding is that any additional bonus payments and the conditions attached to qualification for such payments are determined by processors and their retail customers. There are a number of conditions which pertain to such payments and may include age limits and restrictions on the number of movements allowed. These are commercial arrangements and my Department has no role in their establishment, nor in collection or analysis of the payments which are made.
My Department has not issued a directive to livestock marts regarding the display of residencies information on the mart boards. The movement information is included on the bovine passport which must accompany the animal at all stages of movement including to a livestock mart. My Department provides similar movement information to that on the passport to the livestock mart and this information is provided by means of a secure webservice facility.
The information which is recorded on the Department's Animal Identification and Movement database (AIM) is in compliance with Council Regulation 1760/2000 which provides for the competent authority to ensure access to the data for all parties concerned, S.I. No. 77 of 2009 European Communities (Identification of Bovines) and S.I. No. 521 of 2014 Animal Health and Welfare (Bovine Movement Regulations).
