Mr. Michael Doran:

The beef data and genomics programme is a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine scheme that was brought in in the last Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, reform to help to target money at the suckler sector, which was identified as needing that support at the time. That was the background to the scheme. There was a big focus on terminal traits for a long time and we made massive genetic gain with carcass weights and confirmation. At the same time, we reduced the impact on the maternal side, where the calves per cow per year were slipping, milk was slipping and such. That forced people to source replacements from within the dairy sector to try to balance some of those things that were happening. That is the background to the scheme and trying to address some of those balances.

On the corporate governance issue and the board, the board is made up of three representatives from the artificial insemination, AI, sector, and they represent both beef and dairy AI. There are three representatives from the milk recording agencies. We have six farm organisation representatives on the board, four from the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, and two from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA. We have three herdbook representatives. They are represented by two from the Irish Holstein Friesian Association, IHFA, and one pedigree cattle breeding representative, who happens to be a Charolais breeder, and one person from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Each of those people has a four-year term on the board and is up for reappointment at that stage. Deputy Penrose made the point earlier about farming politics, boards and such. It is not in ICBF's remit to get involved in who those organisations submit to represent them at board level. My background was being an IFA representative on the board, but each of those sectors appoints and elects its own representatives to the board from that background. That is the background.

Corporate governance was also mentioned. Last year, we initiated a full independent corporate governance review of the board. We brought in a corporate governance specialist from the Institute of Public Administration to do that with us, which was very good for the organisation and the board. It has been successful from the point of view of how the board works and getting more from it. We take corporate governance seriously. We take all those issues that come with it and we are meeting any requirements that we have to meet. It is up to individuals to make nominations and representations to the board about appointments that come to it. Mr. Sean Coughlan will deal with other issues.