Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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112. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the function the herd register continues to perform for an Irish farmer, and for his Department, in view of the operation of the animal identification and movement system and the cattle movement monitoring system; the reason it is considered as a breach, and with respect to its operation and maintenance, can lead to possible penalties, following on from farm inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25548/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The requirement to maintain a bovine herd register is one of the four pillars of the Bovine Animal Identification and Traceability System and is required by EC Commission Regulation 911/2004/EC  and S.I. No 77 of 2009 European Communities (Identification of Bovines) Regulations.  Under these regulations, herd keepers are required to record all births and movements/disposals in the Herd Register of Bovine Animals known as the ‘blue book’. The Department has simplified the process of maintaining cattle records for herd keepers using the electronic register Agfood.ie. by removing the requirement to maintain the paper on farm bovine herd register.  Keepers that wish to avail of this facility must complete a declaration agreeing to abide by the Terms and Conditions. Such farmers are required to ensure the information on the electronic register reflects the activity in their herd and is accurate. If information is not maintained by the farmer, it will still constitute a penalty at inspection if the on-farm position is not accurately reflected in AIM.

In relation to farm inspections, EU Regulations governing the Direct Payment Schemes and other area-based schemes require my Department to carry out on-the spot checks to ensure compliance with Cross Compliance requirements as laid down in this legislation. Compliance with bovine identification and registration requirements is one of the specific Statutory Management Requirements under the Cross Compliance regime. Where non-compliances with these requirements are identified by means of an on-the-spot check, or where a non-compliance is brought to the attention of my Department, a penalty must be applied. However, where a non-compliance is deemed to be minor in nature, a tolerance may be applied resulting in no financial sanction and the applicant is advised to remedy the problem. Where the non-compliance is not remedied within a certain period, a penalty must be applied.

The electronic register initiative facilitates the optimum use of the Department's records to reduce the burden of record keeping for farmers and other stakeholders and confers significant benefits for stakeholders including reduced bureaucracy, removal of duplication, increased flexibility and reduced risk associated with financial penalties arising at cross compliance inspections.