Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of sheep from Northern Ireland killed in this country in the years 2002, 2003 and 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8107/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The number of sheep from Northern Ireland slaughtered at approved export premises in the years in question are as follows:

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if breeding ewes from this country can be sold in Northern Ireland; if so, the criteria that must be met; her plans to change this criteria; if any of her staff have met representatives from the sheep farming community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8108/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Trade in sheep between member states of the European Union is subject to the provisions of Council Directive 2003/50/EC, which reinforced controls on movement of sheep and goats. These controls, which are a direct consequence of the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001, came into effect on 1 July 2004. They provide, as a minimum requirement, that breeding sheep must be certified as having been continuously resident on a holding for at least 30 days prior to export including a so-called "standstill" period of 21 days prior to export during which time no sheep or goats have been introduced on to the holding.

Breeding sheep may be certified for export either from the holding of origin or from an approved assembly centre. Where breeding sheep are presented for certification at an approved assembly centre, they can be moved only direct from the holding of origin to the approved assembly centre. Between leaving the holding of origin and arriving at destination, the sheep must not come into contact with other cloven hoofed animals other than those of the same breeding health status.

Apart from the foregoing, EU rules also provide that in relation to trade in the context of scrapie, all breeding sheep must be either of the ARR-ARR prion protein genotype or have been kept in a scrapie monitored flock for at least three years with no cases of scrapie being confirmed during this period. These rules apply across the EU and between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Officials from my Department recently met with delegations representing the sheep industry in County Wicklow and the current legal requirements were discussed in detail.