Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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373. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the new suckler cow scheme in view of the six year rule that would result in farmers being penalised if they do not comply with all conditions in this time span, and if they decide to move to a different enterprise in that six years. [19943/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and will provide suckler farmers in Ireland with funding of some €300 million over the next 6 years. The BDGP builds on the investment in data recording and genomics in recent years , and will ultimately bring about long-term improvements to the sector by fundamentally improving the genetic quality of the beef herd. The BDGP has been approved under the agri-environment provisions in the RDP regulations and can make an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the national herd. The six year commitment arises from the requirements of the EU Rural Development Regulation under which this scheme is co-funded by the EU and Irish taxpayers . Article 28 of this Regulation stipulates that all agri-environmental schemes must be at least 5 years in duration and farmers will be familiar with multi-annual schemes such as GLAS and REPS where similar conditions apply.

The six year timeframe provides a guaranteed and stable payment for suckler farmers allowing them to plan and budget on their farms for the duration of the programme. It is important to note that the penalty system includes appropriate tolerances where only minor non-compliances occur and no penalty will apply in these cases. In more serious cases there must of course be an applicable penalty however, on balance, I am satisfied that the approach reflects the most proportionate response consistent with the Regulations. The requirement to seek full refund of payment only applies in the event of permanent withdrawal from the scheme. As always in such cases, force majeure clauses have been included in the Terms and Conditions where withdrawal is due to circumstances beyond the applicant’s control such as illness or disease. There is also a provision included for transfers by gift or inheritance whereby the transferee can decide to take over the commitments or exit from the programme entirely.

The BDGP is a substantial commitment to the beef sector over the next 6 years and I will continue to monitor its implementation to ensure that it is fit for purpose. The BDGP, like all RDP Schemes, will be subject to mid-term review over the next five years. If aspects of the scheme can be improved in the future, I will seek to address these issues in consultation with the EU Commission.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 to 376, inclusive, together.

The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and will provide suckler farmers in Ireland with funding of some €300 million over the next 6 years. The BDGP builds on the investment in data recording and genomics in recent years, and will ultimately bring about long-term improvements to the sector by fundamentally improving the genetic quality of the beef herd.

One of the requirements of the programme stipulates that from 30 June 2016, at least 80% of the AI used on participating holdings must be from 4 or 5 star bulls on either the terminal or replacement index. This complements the requirement that where a stock bull is used, at least one stock bull on the holding on the 30 June 2019 must be a genotyped 4 or 5 star bull on either the terminal or replacement index.

There is a very wide range of AI bulls available for pedigree beef breeding that are 4 or 5 stars on either the replacement or terminal index. For example, ICBF recently completed its listing of recommended sires for bull breeders involved in the Gene Ireland maternal beef breeding program. In total there are some 164 bulls in that catalogue of which 151 (92%) are 4 or 5 stars on either the replacement or terminal index within or across breeds.

For imported bulls, the ICBF assigns a rating based on the data available for each bull at that time. The approach used to assigning this rating is in line with that used for all other bulls under the eurostar rating system. It would not be appropriate to assign higher ratings to imported bulls without any scientific rationale for doing so. It is important that any rating is based on objective, scientific criteria which the ICBF can justify to each and every farmer using such bulls.

The fact that 20% of the AI used can come from other types of bulls gives scope for pedigree breeders that wish to use some outcross sires as part of the scheme. ICBF calculates a euro star evaluation for imported sires based on their foreign data so that they can be utilised under the programme. For example, there were 166 new beef AI sires coded last year, both Irish and internationally bred, and of these 69% are already compliant with the scheme. Indeed, ICBF can provide an indication of the likely euro star rating to be given to such bulls when imported into Ireland and it is likely that AI companies and breeders will be much more vigilant regarding the type of “outcross” bulls that they purchase/import in the future.