Seanad debates

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

Common Agricultural Policy and Rural Development Programme: Statements

 

2:20 pm

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

I can stay still until 3.45 p.m. if Members are willing to listen to me for that long. On the beef genomics scheme, Members should not confuse the current scheme, which was announced at budget time to commence in 2014, with the new beef genomics and data scheme that is to be introduced under the rural development programme. We are devising a public consultation process to help us in finalising the details of these schemes. We want feedback, including from the Seanad, in terms of the final shape of the schemes.

The current beef genomics scheme requires farmers to take DNA samples from 15% of their animals. We estimate that this will cost approximately €30 per animal. Farmers are being paid €40 in respect of each of their animals but they are only obliged to pay for the cost of taking DNA samples from 15% of them.

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