Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine since the introduction of HerdPlus software in 2006, if there was any consideration given to compensation to the two privately operated companies who earn their livelihoods through selling commercial software which HerdPlus is now directly competing against; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33916/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) is a cooperative and its shareholders include all stakeholders in the cattle breeding industry such as Pedigree Cattle Herdbooks, AI Organisations, Milk Recording Organisations and farmer representative organisations.

HerdPlus is an information service provided by the ICBF. ICBF developed Herdplus in consultation with the industry. Herdplus is built around genetic evaluations and reproductive information on a whole herd basis and provides information which is easy to follow to the farmer on all animals in the herd including comparison of the herd to the national average figures.

The issue of compensation is not a matter for the Department.