Mr. Seán Coughlan:

I will respond to Senator Ó Domhnaill's question on resources. Resources continue to be a challenge and the ICBF must respond to increasing demands in trying to fulfil its role in Food Harvest 2020. The Department, along with the wider industry, has been very supportive over the years in helping us, but resources continue to be an issue. We have more and more demands and we run a lean organisation. Nevertheless, the calls on us are increasing. Genomic evaluation and cattle breeding technologies are exploding and it is a significant challenge to keep up with it. However, it is important to keep up if we are to deliver on our role in the 2020 Food Harvest targets.

Senator Ó Domhnaill referred to the suckler cow welfare scheme. From the ICBF perspective, the scheme has provided the backbone of our ability to push on from a beef breeding point of view. The slides in my presentation show that the trends in genetic gain on the dairy and beef sides are remarkably different. We have not had the same progress on the beef side as on the dairy side. The suckler cow welfare scheme has been the engine allowing us to get that in place. A group chaired by my colleague, Mr. Michael Doran, has set up a new Eurostar genetic evaluation infrastructure for beef and it is ready to take off. From the ICBF perspective, it is critical to maintain the data flow that has underpinned the suckler cow welfare scheme.