Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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182. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason animals slaughtered in slaughter houses in Northern Ireland are not considered eligible for payment under the beef finishers payment scheme; if they will be made eligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40525/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Beef Finisher Payment (BFP) scheme was launched on the 10th August 2020. The aim of the scheme was to provide income support for farmers finishing beef who have been impacted by the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Payments are made based on the data contained on my Department’s Animal Identification and Movements (AIM) system. My Department issued €46.6m to 27,200 farmers under the BFP last month.

The Terms and Conditions of the BFP scheme defines an eligible animals as “those bovine animals identified on AIM on 15th July 2020 as aged eight months or over when presented for slaughter to a slaughtering establishment approved under the European Communities (Food & Feed Hygiene) Regulations (S.I. 22 of 2020) in the period of 1st February 2020 to 12th June inclusive”.

Only those animals slaughtered during the reference period in approved slaughter establishments located in the State can be considered for payment under the scheme. Robust verification of eligibility is essential for audit purposes and the Department's Animal Identification and Movement System provides slaughter data only in respect of Ireland. All live bovine animals that are moved out of Ireland are recorded as ‘Live Exports’ irrespective of the purpose for which they are exported. The status of such exported animals cannot be verified systematically.

In addition, the basis for additional exchequer funding was the market disturbance experienced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The R3 Steer price for the reference period relating to the measure was consistently higher in Northern Ireland than in Ireland. Based on these considerations, the BFP was designed to not include animals slaughtered in Northern Ireland.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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183. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry did not receive payment under the beef finisher payment scheme for animals that were slaughtered in the European Union; if these animals will be made eligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40529/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Beef Finisher Payment (BFP) scheme was launched on 10th August 2020. The aim of the scheme was to provide income support for farmers finishing beef who have been impacted by the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Payments are made based on the data contained on my Department’s Animal Identification and Movements (AIM) system. My Department issued €46.6m to 27,200 farmers under the BFP last month.

The Terms and Conditions of the BFP scheme defines an eligible animals as “those bovine animals identified on AIM on 15th July 2020 as aged eight months or over when presented for slaughter to a slaughtering establishment approved under the European Communities (Food & Feed Hygiene) Regulations (S.I. 22 of 2020) in the period of 1st February 2020 to 12th June inclusive”.

Only those animals slaughtered during the reference period in approved slaughter establishments located in the State can be considered for payment under the scheme. All live bovine animals that are moved out of Ireland are recorded as ‘Live Exports’ irrespective of the purpose for which they are exported. The status of such exported animals cannot be verified systematically.

The person named lodged a BFP application under appeal on 8 September as it was determined that he had no eligible animals. A review of the movements from the herd in the reference period was carried out and a letter upholding the Department's position issued on 5 October as it was determined that all animals in question had been exported to Northern Ireland. The letter also advised the person named of their right to appeal the decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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184. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which an auctioneer can get on the panel of independent valuers that carry out live valuations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40557/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Valuers are appointed as contractors to my Department via a multi-supplier tendering framework advertised on the e-tenders website in line with relevant Irish and EU public procurement regulations.

The most recent request for tender (RFT), completed in 2016, required prospective tenderers to provide evidence of at least three years' experience in the evaluation of bovine livestock in one or more of the following six areas:

- expertise in livestock auctioneering/mart management.

- expertise in live judging.

- expertise in live weight assessment.

- expertise in projecting carcass grade at slaughter.

- expertise in projecting kill-out weights and

- expertise in analysing market trends/market requirements and in a minimum of two of more of the following four categories:

- Pedigree beef cattle.

- Commercial beef cattle.

- Pedigree dairy cattle and

- Commercial dairy cattle.

Applicants successful this round of the process were then invited to a secondary stage where they are required to demonstrate their expertise in evaluating of bovine livestock at a live assessment session and are assessed in terms of their ability to evaluate a broad range of categories relating to pedigree and non-pedigree beef and dairy animals, breeding and non-breeding. Tenderers are also required to demonstrate their overall knowledge relating to livestock breeding and the bovine livestock industry.

The current contract is due to expire on 1st November 2021. In line with procurement rules, a new RFT, following the format outlined above, will be published in the first quarter of next year in order to have a new contract in place for November.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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185. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will contact a person (details supplied) in County Kerry whose herd has been restricted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40559/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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This herd was restricted on 2nd October 2020 as a result of an animal, which was exported to Northern Ireland for direct slaughter, having suspect lesions. The lesions were sent for laboratory analysis to confirm the presence or otherwise of bovine TB. The results are awaited and they generally take around 11 weeks.

According to my Department's records, the herdowner contacted the Regional Veterinary office on 11 November when he spoke with a Veterinary Inspector (VI). The herdowner also spoke to a VI on 27 November.

The VI over the herdowners' area contacted the herdowner again on 30th November and discussed through the options available to him. My Department will continue to engage with the herdowner as we await the laboratory results for this animal.