Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 40:

In page 30, lines 17 to 21, to delete subsection (9).

This amendment seeks to delete subsection (9). That subsection states that the Minister may issue guidelines relating to the valuation of an animal, animal product, feed or other thing relating to the farm animal, or an arbiter may have regard to those guidelines. The subsection is very prescriptive and sets out the terms of reference of what that valuation should be. Farming organisations have argued that the Department is appointing the valuer but only after the guidelines of what they should be looking for have been established. The Minister's earlier comments on a kind of book-value model, which is widely available, would perhaps be a better starting point, rather than being prescriptive on details concerning guidelines. I am not sure exactly what those guidelines will be on the valuation of animals, but I am sure the Minister will explain them. How will they be brought into account? The animal product obviously refers to feed and other products. However, if one is setting guidelines and also selecting the valuer, it seems that is where the issue would be.