Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 500: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will reconsider his proposal for the introduction of electronic sheep tagging in view of the depressed state of the sheep industry and the rapid decline in the number of sheep here; the cost per head of tagging on individual animals; his views on whether it is necessary to change from the system for identification and for traceability purposes; the estimated cost of introducing this scheme at national level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43100/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The introduction of electronic identification (EID) for sheep was agreed at EU level in late 2003. At that time, it was agreed to defer the implementation date until January 2008. The Council revisited this issue in December 2007 when it was agreed that the deadline for the compulsory introduction of EID should be set for 31 December 2009, 6 years after the original decision was taken. I have no discretion as regards the date of implementation. I have always had the greatest reluctance in relation to the mandatory introduction of EID. My consistent view has always been that the introduction of EID of sheep should only have been introduced on a voluntary basis. There is, and always has been, a lack of sufficient support from the other EU Member States or from the European Commission for a voluntary scheme.

In the discussions in Brussels, a number of measures have been negotiated intended to minimise any inconvenience in its introduction. In particular, provision has been made to exempt from EID, lambs under 12 months of age and that are intended for slaughter. This means that the vast majority of Irish sheep will not be affected by the EID requirement. Primarily only those animals retained for breeding over the coming years would have to be electronically tagged and so the additional costs to farmers in any given year are being kept to a minimum. Given that 70% of Irish flocks have less than 100 sheep, the vast majority of farmers will have a maximum additional annual cost of €30.

If EID is largely confined to replacement breeding stock in 2010 it is likely that no more than 450,000 sheep will be subject to EID. The additional overall cost is estimated to be approximately €700,000. The European Commission for its part has estimated the cost of an electronic identifier to be within the range of €1-€2. It is my intention that the scheme to be introduced during the course of next year will be implemented in consultation with the stakeholders and will take appropriate account of Irish conditions.