The Minister has failed to put the sheep tagging issue to bed; instead he has increased the layers of bureaucracy. One tag – a flock or herd tag – in one ear of the animal is acceptable to the Commission and is applied in Europe. What does our Minister want? Not only does he want one tag in one ear, he wants several tags in both ears. He knows that nowadays farmers must be qualified auditors as well as farmers to survive this system. This must be addressed urgently.