Written answers

Wednesday, 21 October 2015

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Sheepmeat Sector

Photo of Pat DeeringPat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

65. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason samples taken from sheep for genotyping purposes are sent to Edinburgh University in Scotland at a cost of €30 each, rather than being sent to an Irish laboratory at a lower cost. [36678/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Genotype Program me was launched in May 2004 and involves the genotyping of sheep to enable farmers select the most scrapie resistant animals for breeding. The programme is a voluntary one and the cost of genotyping is borne directly by farmers. I understand that no Irish based laboratory has offered a commercial genotyping service in this area since 2005.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.