Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the provision of general software services to farmers including stock management, health management, financial recording, financial planning, sheep recording, and nitrates management fall within the remit of the Irish Cattle Breeders Federation; his views on this in view of stated objective of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to encourage the development of an indigenous, export oriented, small and medium enterprise based software sector, his further view of the fact that up to six private companies, now reduced to two, were at one stage engaged in the provision of such services; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that his Department have funded the ICBF to become the No 1 seller of farm software services in Ireland via their software HerdPlus and that this funding is severely undermining the existing non-taxpayer funded companies in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30553/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) was established in 1997 as a cooperative and is registered with the Registrar of Friendly Societies. Its shareholders include all stakeholders in the cattle breeding industry such as Pedigree Cattle Herdbooks, AI Organisations, Milk Recording Organisations and farmer representative organisations.

The mission of the ICBF is 'to achieve the greatest possible genetic improvement in the National cattle herd for the benefit of Irish farmers, and the dairy and beef industries and members by collecting, collating and distributing available information and data of practical and scientific interest, by promoting the exchange of all such information and data amongst breeders of cattle in Ireland.' ICBF has a proven track record of accelerating the genetic gain in the National herd, and thus improving profits for farm families across the country. The unique industry led nature of ICBF has allowed Ireland to develop a world class breeding infrastructure and become a world leader in cattle breeding activities.

The ICBF does not provide software services to farmers.