Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 653: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason persons who are jointly farming cannot have a herd number registered in both names; her plans to have this matter addressed and the computer system updated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1377/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The herd number system is an administrative arrangement under the disease eradication schemes and is designed primarily for the purposes of disease control.

The criteria used in assessing applications for a herd number principally include independent management of the holding, separate housing and fodder, the availability of adequate testing facilities and without the possibility of intermixing with cattle from any other herd. In effect, a herd number is issued in respect of a distinct epidemiological unit.

My Department, as a matter of policy and consistent with Irish and EU legal provisions, when issuing a herd number registers one individual person as the "keeper" of the animals. When a company, institution or multiple persons wish to register an interest in the herd number they are registered as "herdowners" and are asked to nominate the keeper who is to be the initial point of contact in regard to animal inspections, testing, identification, records etc. and who is legally responsible for the day-to-day care and welfare of the animals. The "keeper" is not necessarily the owner of the animals and the role of "keeper" on the computer system is a non-payee role to prevent any payments being made for example, reactor payments under the disease eradication programmes, directly to a keeper who is not also registered as a "herdowner". In the event that the keeper and owner are one and the same person, she or he is assigned both roles. I have no proposals to change the present system.

The first phase of the new animal health computer system, which involves the replacement and enhancement of the current cattle disease testing system while at the same time providing functionality in relation to broader veterinary and animal health activities and laying the foundation for future expansion of the system in those areas, is being rolled out at present to all district veterinary offices. Roll-out should be completed by the end of next month. The animal health computer system has been designed to allow veterinary practitioners and the Department electronically to exchange data relating to disease tests. This will provide greater efficiencies for both the Department and veterinary practitioners.

The new system will augment other computer systems developed by the Department in recent years, particularly those relating to cattle traceability, thus providing further consumer assurance in the area of food safety. The system will share data with a number of systems including cattle movement monitoring system and the bovine tagging and registration system thereby providing a complete picture of an animal's life cycle.