Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Coughlan for coming before the joint committee and making a presentation. It is a pity it did not happen before we got to where we are, that is to say, a position where we have a scheme with an incredibly low take-up, particularly among smaller herdowners. From the figures the Minister gave me yesterday, it seems that 52% of herds in the country are less than ten years old. One could say statistics do not count and that may be the case, but there are 198,000 cattle. Only 21% of farmers have sent in the forms and there will be an attrition rate of up to 50%, which leaves the figure at 10%.

We have to keep in mind that there is an income element. I realise the Minister has said this is not an income support scheme, but it was certainly sold to farmers that Pillar 2 would provide income support for poorer farmers, particularly those on marginal land. That is why they were asked to give all of the money that the Commissioner told us he was offering to big farmers on good land. The idea was that they would benefit under Pillar 2. Unfortunately, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, ICBF, is in the eye of the storm that has many complexities.

Were those on the board of the ICBF aware of the proposals that the federation had put to the Minister on the beef data and genomics scheme? Presumably, the ICBF was asked for proposals when the scheme was being put to the Commission in Brussels and that the federation made proposals on how a genomics scheme might work in an Irish context. Were those on the board of ICBF made aware of the federation's initial proposals? Were they made aware of the changes as the negotiations continued, including when it changed from an improvement to breed for productivity purposes scheme? This was ruled out of order in Brussels and it had to become an environmental scheme under it was changed from being a payment per head to a payment per hectare and so on. Were those on the board aware of this? Many of the farming organisations maintain that the scheme had major flaws. I understand they have representatives on the board of the ICB.

My second question is about data collection. My understanding is that this has worked well in the dairy herd. Perhaps Mr. Coughlan might set out whether all dairy farmers are involved in genomic recording? Am I right in thinking that in genomics much of the data for dairy herds, for example, for milk quality and so on are not qualitative but quantitative? In other words, they are data the federation receives from processors with the permission of farmers. Will Mr. Coughlan outline in more detail the nature of the data the federation will capture from farmers? Will he outlne the data which are qualitative such as whether it is easy to calve? There may be a temptation to say it was because if a farmer was to say it was not, it would be difficult to sell cattle. How much of it is subject to human decision, as opposed to being definitive figures received by way of an accurate measurement which is independently verified? How are the data collected? Will Mr. Coughlan explain how the federation separates qualitative data, as I put it, from purely quantitative data?

Mr. Coughlan said he would link the data with factory data. I can understand how the federation receives data for terminal traits. One could confirm the rating an animal receives in the factory on the eurostar scale. Will Mr. Coughlan explain the nature of the data the federation collects in marts, other than the fact that it records that an animal has passed through?

Are any data collected in the marts? As the delegates stated, participation in on-farm recording has also facilitated the linking up of mart and factory data. What are the mart data? Is anything recorded other than the fact that the animal has passed through? We need to understand this.

I take it that when Mr. Coughlan states the top 20% would be five-star and the top 40% would be four-star, he is really saying the top 20% would be five-star, the next 20% would be four-star and the next 20% would be three-star. Is that correct?