Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his position on the introduction of electronic tagging; the impact this will have on traceability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3787/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The introduction of EID for sheep was agreed at EU level in late 2003. At that time, it was agreed to defer the implementation date until January 2008. The Council of Agriculture Ministers revisited this issue in December 2007 when it was agreed that the deadline for the compulsory introduction of EID should be set for 31 December 2009, six years after the original decision was taken. I have always expressed major concerns with the mandatory introduction of EID for a sheep sector that is clearly under pressure. My consistent view has been that the introduction of EID for sheep should only be on a voluntary basis and I most recently articulated this position to the European Commission, the Commissioner and fellow Ministers at the Agriculture Council of Ministers meetings, most recently on 20 November 2009.

It is to be regretted that there is not sufficient support among other member states and none from the European Commission for any further rollback in regard to the date for the mandatory introduction of EID or for a voluntary scheme. The prevailing view at EU level is that member states should proceed with implementation and other member states have proceeded with implementation on a mandatory basis. I, therefore, have no discretion as regards the date of implementation and there can be no question of deferring its introduction for a further period. In these circumstances, we are now obliged to proceed with its introduction.

Over the period of debate at EU level, I placed a strong emphasis in pressing our case for a voluntary scheme and in this regard I have secured major concessions on EID in discussions with the European Commission at official level and with the Commissioner. These concessions include a slaughter derogation, which means all lambs intended for slaughter and under 12 months old can now be exempted from EID. This will result in EID being largely confined to replacement breeding stock that are born after 31 December 2009. This means the vast majority of Irish sheep will be excluded from EID requirements, which will minimise costs for producers. Furthermore, where lambs identified under the slaughter derogation are subsequently retained for breeding purposes they can then be tagged with an EID device at the second holding. This is a major breakthrough in facilitating existing trade practice in the sector and addresses concerns raised by Irish farming organisations and Members of the Oireachtas that the new EID system would eliminate the sale of breeding sheep at marts, which would have an adverse effect on competitiveness in the industry.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has circulated a technical document outlining the proposed changes to the national sheep identification system to farm organisations and other stakeholders for comments. This is part of a consultative process which has been ongoing for some time. The stakeholders have been asked to examine this document carefully and engage with my officials so that whatever revisions are made to the NSIS best suit Irish conditions and minimise the burden on farmers within the parameters of the new legislation. I urge the various organisations to contribute specific input at this stage to the proposed scheme.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is clear that nobody is listening to the Minister. Given that Britain has accepted a 20% error rate as the norm in the new electronic scheme and the NSIS currently in place in this country has a higher compliance rate than that, but is the single biggest factor for queries and hold-ups in single farm payments, how does the Minister think this will work with regard to single farm payment processing this time next year when all of the errors start to appear? The accepted error rate is 20% before the scheme starts. Did the other countries involved in this scheme already have a similar scheme to the NSIS in place?

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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In regard to Britain, Northern Ireland has not applied for the derogations we received and it is intended to implement the mandatory scheme, as it is outlined by the European Commission. I mentioned earlier - maybe nobody was listening, as Deputy Doyle said - that the Department-----

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I meant nobody in the Minister's party.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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-----is involved in consultations with all the farm organisations and all stakeholders in regard to the practical implementation of the scheme. I have consistently outlined, at meetings of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and in this House, that we totally opposed the mandatory introduction of the EID, that we had no support around the table of the Council of Ministers, except for one or two other countries, and that there was opposition to anybody getting a derogation. The European Commission and the Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou were adamant that the scheme would be implemented. Indeed, they bemoaned the fact that it was not implemented six years ago when it should have been. In regard to the error rate, it is an issue of which we are conscious. That is why Department officials are involved in detailed discussions with farmer organisations or representatives to ensure we minimise the difficulties for the primary producers and people do not lose out in terms of cross-compliance requirements for their single payments. Those issues are currently under discussion.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My other question concerned whether other countries have a similar scheme. Will we have two schemes in place over the next 12 months? Will the NSIS be phased out?

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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There will be a requirement regarding the new numbering system. It will have a different number of characters. Some years ago the 13 digit sheep tag system was introduced. That will be incompatible, but there will be a period where there will be a crossover. The new 12 digit number will be introduced with the country code. A 12 digit code containing much of the elements of the whole numbering structure is proposed as a new tag numbering system. The structure of the new numbering system will be similar to the existing structure and will continue to comprise a flock designator unique to every keeper, followed by an individual number for the animals in question and will be issued in sequential order.

A key point is that conventional electronic tags will continue to have the country identifier, the 12 digit sequence and the check letter printed on them. They will continue to be readable to the eye, thus avoiding the need for farmers to have readers. We want to ensure that, in dealing with flock owners, we minimise the disruption during the transition period.