Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman. I welcome the officials from the Department and I am glad we have an opportunity to air our grievances.

For the past ten weeks I have travelled the highways and byways campaigning to be elected in a by-election. On my travels I met the farmers of counties Carlow and Kilkenny. Therefore, I know there is a lot of fear, distrust and a lack of communication across the board.

When I came in here today the first thing I learned was that the committee welcomes the fact that Commissioner Hogan, during his term in office, wants to prioritise the simplification of agriculture.

If that is the case then why has Europe imposed more bureaucracy on the sector through this programme? People and farmers distrust the scheme and are not fully aware of what it is about. The Assistant Secretary has stated that 30,000 people have subscribed to the programme. Last weekend I talked to some farmers in Counties Carlow and Kilkenny who told me that a lot of participants drop out because the bureaucracy and amount of paperwork involved does not make it worth their while.

One farmer who contacted me told me that he has built up his herd and now breeds purebred bulls and heifers. He also told me that even though he got the top price when he sold a bull last year the animal would not get a three star rating now and may be granted just two stars. He has spent 20 years building up his herd to provide a finished cattle product up to factory standard, yet his bull will not receive a rating of three or four stars. Where does one go from there? I think the scheme will not work.

I ask the Minister and his Department officials present to look at my list of questions and consider these issues. Will the Minister and his Department postpone a mandatory Euro-star index system? I suggest that the system be implemented as a guideline for the next five years. If it is found to work, then we can make it mandatory in 2020, and thus protect the future of the beef farmer in this country.

I wish to ask about the 2014 reference year. A lot of young farmers in 2015 had no reference year and may not even have had a farm in 2014. Therefore, I suggest we give them a two-year chance. I ask for 2014 and 2015 to be made reference years, which would give them a chance to join the system. I suggest that each year be taken in its own right. In other words, I want a rolling system every year which is based on its own merit. For example, 2014 would be the reference year for 2015, and the same would apply for each year up to 2019.

As part of the roll-out of the beef data and genomics programme, I want the rate of 60% replacement reduced to 40% by 2020. The new system should not be pitched as high as 60% but reduced to 40% in order to give people a chance to participate and remain in the scheme.

I want to know the following. How many farmers have applied to join the scheme? What will happen to the moneys if they are not fully utilised? It was mentioned that there are 30,000 applicants and the scheme should be fully subscribed. If the scheme is not fully taken up, where will the leftover money go? The matter is of concern to farmers.

I understand that Dovea Genetics has only one Charolais bull that has a five-star rating. The company supplies half the country with straws for breeding purposes. With such a situation, how can we prevent inbreeding? Farmers participating in the programme will want to get a good-quality animal. If one buys a heifer in Wexford and a bull in Waterford, the purity of the breed might be in danger. Not having enough four- and five-star bulls available for breeding is a serious matter.

I understand that exported calves were not included in the genomics programme last year. I believe appropriate credit should be given for export animals and they should be acknowledged in the Euro-star index system. In other words, exported calves were not included, so their mothers did not benefit in terms of the index system. Why? They were excluded just because the calves were exported. If those animals had been sold to factories here their mothers and fathers would have received a rating. The omission of such exported animals is wrong.

Will the system be able to efficiently process cases? Will tests be omitted? Last year I was told that purebred herd owners had to wait six months to get the result of a genomics test, which prevented them from selling their animals. As many as 30,000 farmers have applied to join the system. Is it capable and efficient enough to cater for such a number?