Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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148. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department consulted with and deferred to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Society Limited in the design of the Beef Data Genomics Programme 2015 to 2020. [29490/15]

Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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149. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department consulted with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Society Limited on the subject of negotiations with the European Commission on the design of the Beef Data Genomics Programme 2015 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29491/15]

Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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150. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department's relationship with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Society Limited. [29492/15]

Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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151. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and the management of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Society Limited consulted with its board on its role in the design of the Beef Data Genomics Programme 2015 to 2020; his views on the corporate governance of the society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29493/15]

Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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152. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the legal status and legal personality of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Society Limited, 2015 to 2020. [29494/15]

Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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153. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Society Limited is registered with the Companies Registration Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29495/15]

Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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154. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the gross income of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Society Limited in 2014; if that information was provided to the Charities Regulatory Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29496/15]

Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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155. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total expenditure of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Society Limited in 2014; if that information was provided to the Charities Regulatory Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29497/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 to 155, inclusive, together.

The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) is a not for profit co-operative established by stakeholders, including farm bodies, to improve cattle breeding in Ireland. Its board includes representatives of farm bodies, breed societies, and AI and Milk Recording Organisations. My Department is represented on the board, but is not a shareholder.

The ICBF is the only approved body currently designated in Ireland under Commission Decision 2006/427/EC to set the rules for performance recording, assessing genetic value and for publication of the evaluation results of pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species. The EU legislation states ‘all data must be recorded under the responsibility of the approved body'. The ICBF provides independent animal genetic evaluations for beef and dairy cattle farmers and the wider cattle breeding industry in Ireland and its activities include:

a. operating and maintaining the ICBF cattle database and animal events recording system to gather data for genetic evaluation services;

b. operating the test centre at Tully;

c. establishing and supporting the breeding programmes for Irish dairy and beef breeds;

d. engaging with research organisations to develop further services to Irish cattle farmers.

The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Society Ltd is registered with the Companies Registration Office in Dublin under Registration Number 4914R, through the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts, 1893 to 1978. The ICBF has registered offices at Highfield House, Shinagh, Bandon, Co Cork. The gross income of the ICBF in 2014 was €8,742,349, and its accounts were filed with the Register of Friendly societies. The ICBF will be providing the information in relation to its 2014 expenditure to the Charities Regulatory Authority within the timeframe required by the legislation (10 months after year end).

In relation to the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) as the Deputy is aware, this scheme allocates funding of some €300 million to support suckler farmers in Ireland over the next six years. The BDGP builds on the large strategic investment in data recording and genomics which has been made in Ireland in recent years and which has been undertaken in conjunction with the ICBF. It will ultimately bring about fundamental improvements to the entire sector by substantially improving the overall genetic quality of the national beef herd, which is an objective I believe we all share. It is clear that such a scheme could not happen without the existence of the ICBF whose knowledge infrastructure and databases are key to the scheme’s design and operation.

The BDGP forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 and, in line with other farm supports included in that programme, it was designed and negotiated by my Department. As part of this design process, and the subsequent negotiations with the European Commission, my Department sought technical input from various sources, including technical experts in ICBF, Teagasc and Bord Bia on an ongoing basis. This input was essential in helping my Department formulate the scheme design and deal with issues as they arose in the negotiations. My Department presented the details of the BDGP to the ICBF Board prior to its launch, and the Board agreed to implement certain elements of the scheme at the request of my Department. My focus is now on ensuring the successful implementation of this 6 year programme of investment and I welcome the central role that the ICBF will play in its operation.