Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. There appears to be a significant number of advantages to supporting the introduction of EID technology to monitor stock movements and to eliminate human error and the strain and stress of work in terms of the level of input. There are a significant number of positives. The witnesses said ICOS carried out trials a couple of years ago in Enniscorthy, Roscommon and Fermoy. They might elaborate on those and give us an idea of how they were accepted. Since we have EID technology for breeding sheep for the past few years, will the witnesses elaborate on how that is working, whether it can be improved and what suggestions they might have in that regard?

ICOS represents the livestock marts. One of the issues raised is how the introduction of bovine EID helps the operation of its marts, given this is ICOS' end of the industry. It was said that the European Commission already allows for a voluntary system to be put in place, if that is what the member state wishes to do. What is the ICOS view of that proposal? Has the introduction of this been explored with the Department, even on a trial basis for 12 months, in order to see how it would operate and become effective? The ICOS presentation, which is very succinct and for which I thank the witnesses, also indicates there would no longer be any need for animal passports if an EID system was in place.

The witnesses indicated that €7 million to €8 million would be saved. Apart from that saving, what are the other advantages of operating without passports? How advanced is this technology? Is it continuing to advance and is the system continually subject to research throughout Europe?

What will the likely additional cost be to the herdowner? As the witnesses know, farmers want to get down to the nitty-gritty. They kicked up holy hell over the beef data and genomics scheme and various other issues, although I thought what was coming from some quarters was a bit irrational. If this was to be introduced on a compulsory basis and farmers did not have any choice, what would be the additional cost to a farmer of having the system in place?

The €52 million allocated to the beef data and genomics scheme is very important in terms of upgrading the beef herd going forward. I listened to what Deputy Ó Cuív said. In the course of its sales business, I would exhort ICOS to take steps, given the more than 1 million transactions that take place across the country, to display the star ratings of the animals presented for sale on illuminated boards or in whatever way that could be done. Knowledge is power for all stakeholders in this regard. The witnesses might indicate if that would be a costly exercise for ICOS and whether ICOS will be requesting that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provide some assistance in enabling it to do that. This could be the key to the operation and applicability of the beef data and genomics scheme and contribute significantly to improvement at the sales end as well as the purchase end. I believe that would be a very integrated way of doing it.

To be honest, I think the Department should make the appropriate contribution to the marts. It would then be playing a big role in helping the farmer, the marts and the industry in general.