Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will implement the Malone report on the sheep industry in full; his timetable for the implementation of its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19594/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Sheep Industry Development Strategy Group, under the chairmanship of Mr. John Malone, set out a blueprint for the sector's future development. Its recommendations relate to all elements of the industry and do not have a fixed timeframe. My Department and the state agencies under my aegis are dealing with the areas relevant to them. Under REPS 4, a new mixed grazing measure specially targeted at sheep farmers has been introduced and development of this measure is being kept under review to ensure a good take up.

Plans for the upgrading of a Sheep Breeding Programme are well advanced and I hope that agreement can be reached and a new programme put in place for the 2008/2009 breeding year. Farmer confidence in the pricing system operated by plants will be improved if mechanical grading can be introduced. My Department has organised trials on this aspect and is assessing the initial results. It is also essential that producers and processors agree on the structures necessary to reward quality and to bring transparency to the pricing system. Teagasc are making a very positive contribution as well and have developed a comprehensive plan to restructure their sheep support services, including a programme for Technology Evaluation and Transfer farms, which includes hill and lowland areas. This approach will provide an opportunity for developing a dialogue with sheep farmers about the application of the latest management practices to their enterprises and identify research and development needs.

The Lamb Quality Assurance Scheme was established in 2007. Bord Bia is also playing a prominent part. Almost 6,000 farms have been registered to date and over 4,200 farm audits have been carried out. In 2007 the Department made available €0.4m to support inspections under the scheme and this funding will be repeated again in 2008 and 2009. In addition to the measures being taken at producer and processor level, promotional efforts are being undertaken by An Bord Bia which will continue to organize strategic marketing campaigns marketing in selected European markets. The downward trend in lamb consumption in certain markets presents a real challenge. To address this, Bord Bia is collaborating with its French and British counterparts on a 3 year generic lamb promotion on the very important French market to promote lamb to younger consumers.

The overall goal is to facilitate the development of a more profitable sheep-meat sector in Ireland covering the lamb production, lamb processing and marketing sectors of the industry. I recognise the challenges ahead but am confident about the future of the sector provided all stakeholders play their part in undertaking the various initiatives set out in the Strategy Group's report.