Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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711. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the scientific basis for statements in the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027 (details supplied); and if these claims were based on his Department’s funded research or internal analyses by organisations given low scrapie prevalence and limited demonstrated performance differences. [65506/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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712. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department's process for updating SIS policy where scientific evidence, including evidence derived from datasets (details supplied) or his Department's funded research, has been contradicted or superseded; and the way in which independence is ensured. [65507/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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715. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has assessed whether linking eligibility for SIS or other supports to the use of a single operator (details supplied) restricts competition or limits breeder rights under Articles 13 and 14. [65510/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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716. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason no records exist regarding the inclusion of the genotyped ram task in the sheep improvement scheme, despite its central role in the CAP Strategic Plan; and whether this indicates a failure in documentation or oversight. [65511/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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728. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to list the peer-reviewed scientific papers relied upon when designing and justifying the sheep improvement scheme genotyped ram action, particularly where the supporting evidence was derived from organisations (details supplied); if his Department assessed the limitations and risk of bias inherent in such internal analyses where independent studies with greater ecological validity that is, real-farm outcomes rather than controlled or index-derived models have shown no consistent or meaningful differences between 1-star and 5-star rams for traits; the reason the national scrapie monitoring scrapie surveillance unit within his Department the competent section with statutory responsibility for scrapie surveillance and risk evaluation did not lead the design, justification or scientific assessment of this task, and why an organisation, rather than the relevant Departmental epidemiological authority, acted as the primary technical source. [65531/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 711, 712, 715, 716 and 728 together.

The CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) was developed following an extensive stakeholder and public consultation process, providing the maximum opportunity for input on proposed interventions. Intervention design was discussed at meetings of the CAP Consultative Committee (CCC) throughout the period 2019 -2022. The CCC comprised all the major farming and agriculture related representative organisations as well as a number of academics and environmental interests, including Teagasc.

A Strengths Weakness Opportunities Threat (SWOT) analysis and needs assessment were undertaken to inform the design process. These identified the need to continue to improve animal health and welfare standards, including through the targeted application of genomic technologies in the sheep sector.

This recommendation is consistent with the overall Food Vision strategy for the sector. Action 15 is "to continue to drive improvements in breeding strategies for cattle and sheep, focused in particular on genomics programmes which contribute to improved environmental and economic efficiency, and improved animal health and animal welfare".

The Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS), including the genotype ram action was approved by the European Commission as part of the CSP which justified measures to improve animal health and welfare standards, including through the targeted application of genomic technologies, in the sheep sector. The approved CSP is published on my department’s website (www.gov.ie/CAP) along with information relating to its development and formulation. This includes the Commission’s observations, environmental impact assessment reports, public consultations, SWOT analysis and needs assessment and the CAP reform Consultative Committee meeting minutes.

Regulation (EU) No. 2016/1012 provides for competent authorities in Member States to authorise third parties to carry out performance recording or genetic evaluation of breeding animals. ICBF is the only body approved in Ireland under the above-mentioned EU legislation to carry out that function for cattle.

Sheep Ireland has a similar function in gathering data in relation to rams and carrying out genetic evaluations. This function is entirely compatible with a voluntary scheme in which an eligible ram is one that has been genomically assessed by the Sheep Ireland Genomic service and satisfies the criteria specified in the scheme rules.

The design of the SIS involved input from policy, operational, veterinary, technical and inspection experts within my department. The policy decision to include the genotyped ram action in scheme was based on the benefits of utilising genomic technologies in the sheep sector. These benefits are widely available in various research papers, including those published or referenced by Teagasc and Sheep Ireland. For example, the SWOT analysis refers to a paper on the possibilities for accelerating genetic improvement of the sheep population. Essentially, the available information shows that the consistent use of higher star-rated rams will increase flock productivity and profitability.

The operation of all CSP schemes is subject to ongoing monitoring by my department and consultation with stakeholder interests, including farm bodies. Any individual issues with intervention design arising from problems experienced by participants are dealt with annually, and amendments are made to the CSP where necessary.