James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 445: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food her plans to deliver on a suckler cow support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16497/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The proposals for an Animal Welfare, Recording and Breeding Scheme for Suckler Herds were originally submitted to the European Commission in December 2006 as part of the Draft Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. In discussions with the Commission on the RDP they requested that nationally funded measures, such as this Scheme, be removed from the Programme. My department therefore prepared an application for State Aid approval separately, as required under EU rules. This is currently under consideration by the Commission. My Department is in contract with the Commission with a view to advancing this consideration as rapidly as possible.