Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This group relates to animal health levies and affects sections 26 to 29, inclusive. The amendments are designed to provide for maximum flexibility in order that the arrangements for the collection of animal levies can be amended in the future via regulations to reflect best practice in terms of efficiency and public accounting requirements. Accordingly, the requirement for advance payment, whether in cash or possible security, of the levy in respect of animals exported live from the State is being dispensed with in favour of a more flexible and adaptable system to make regulations for the collection and remittance of any animal health levies provided for in Part 5 of the Bill. We have an antiquated system at present of farmers who are bringing cattle for live export having to bring a bag of money to pay those levies at the same time. That is not sensible and these amendments reflect that in the new regulations.