Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 360: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the introduction of artificial insemination straws for a particular breed of cattle; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17906/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the European Communities (Trade in Bovine Breeding Animals, Their Semen, Ova and Embryos) Regulations, 1996, S.I. 112 of 1996, bovine semen used in A.I. must be approved for use by my Department.

A.I. organisations or individuals can apply to my Department, through the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, to have semen from a bull approved for use in A.I. Applications may be made for unrestricted use of the semen, use of the semen for official test purposes or use of the semen for special breeding purposes. My Department is not aware of outstanding applications for the approval of semen for use in A.I. in respect of the Belted Galloway breed that have been delayed or refused.