Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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223. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated additional cost that would accrue to the Exchequer on an annual basis if all animals irrespective of grade from a quality assured farm were eligible for a bonus under the beef and lamb assurance schemes. [31942/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The payment for cattle and sheep slaughtered in Ireland is a commercial matter between meat processors and farmers.

The operation of a quality assurance bonus including the eligibility criteria for such a bonus is also entirely a commercial matter between meat processors and farmers. The payments of bonuses to cattle and sheep under quality assurance schemes is not or never has been funded by the exchequer therefore there would be no additional cost accruing to the exchequer in the scenario outlined by the deputy. Any additional payments would be a matter between meat processors and farmers.