Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

242. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the rationale for a sole supplier for the electronic identification tagging for cattle; if he considered a model for multiple suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21605/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A Request for Tenders (RFT) seeking a single supplier for the provision of a service to supply a suite of bovine tags including conventional tags, tissue tags (that provide for tissue sampling for BVD detection and DNA analysis), electronic tags and electronic bolus was published in May.

The policy of seeking a single supplier for cattle tags in the public procurement competition is deemed to be the optimum mechanism for ensuring that ear tags are made available to Irish farmers at a competitive price on the grounds that a single supplier, selected on the basis of a competitive tender and benefitting from economies of scale, is likely to make bovine tags available to herd keepers at the most competitive price, while at the same time meeting the identification requirements of the bovine sector in Ireland for superior quality bovine tags that meet the high standards needed to support a secure bovine identification and traceability system. The policy of seeking a single supplier has been endorsed by the main farming organisations (IFA and ICMSA).

The deadline for the receipt of tenders has been extended to enable my Department examine a number of issues raised by potential suppliers of tags.