Mr. Sean Coughlan:

In regard to members' questions on our involvement in the scheme, in terms of policy this scheme is under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It is not an ICBF scheme but we provided technical input into it. We previously provided technical input into a genomic scheme in 2014 and we were asked for technical advice on the design of the current scheme. The question of signing off or approving the scheme was not in our remit. The discussions between the Department and the European Commission were confidential, as were our discussions with the Department on technical issues. The ICBF board did not discuss the confidential or technical aspects of the scheme.