Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is ongoing engagement between my team and the ICBF in respect of the changes it is making and, in particular, any impacts on SCEP. It is up to the ICBF and the board, on which all the farm organisations are represented, to do their businesses, deal with the data coming in and make the changes and adjustments they are making.

As regards the SCEP programme, I have paused any impact relating to the payments for 4-star or 5-star cows that drop. If a cow was 5-star and drops to 3-star, the farmer will not be penalised so long as the cow is in SCEP. Recognising that it started off as 5-star, the cow will continue to be paid on for the duration of SCEP in order that it does not impact on the percentage of 4-star and 5-star cows in the herd. I have already moved to do that because I want to have that stability within SCEP. Of course, it is important that people pay attention to what the data shows. When the facts change, there must be an adjustment to reflect that. I am continuing to issue payments, but people should factor it into their breeding policy going forward.

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