Agriculture Committee to discuss EU’s fisheries plan, efforts to boost genetic strength of Irish cattle

At 3 p.m. in Committee Room 1, Leinster House, the Committee led by Pat Deering TD will hear from government fisheries officials and cattle breeders involved in the Beef Data Genomics Programme.

Tuesday’s scheduled witnesses, appearing in three sections, are

• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Assistant Secretary General Cecil Beamish and sea fisheries officers Josephine Kelly and Carol Forrest.
• Irish Charolais Cattle Society President Kevin Maguire and Secretary Nevan McKiernan; Cashel Mart manager Alison De Vere Hunt; suckler farmer Christy Comerford, and pedigree cattle breeders Emmanuel O'Dea and Alan Wood.
• Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Chairman Michael Doran, Chief Executive Sean Coughlan and Technical Director Andrew Cromie.

The first section examines the EU’s newly unveiled blueprint for managing Atlantic fish stocks -- the Western Waters MAP -- concerning the fleets of Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and the UK and covering waters that stretch from north of Scotland to the Portuguese island of Madeira. It seeks to manage the profitable catch of 37 species of seabed-dwelling fish, including cod, hake and haddock, and promote the recovery of other stocks.

Parts II and III deal with Ireland’s Beef Data Genomics Programme launched in 2015 to boost the genetic strength of suckler herds and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cattle.

“Thousands of Irish jobs depend on the careful management of fish stocks in the Irish Box and beyond. The Western Waters MAP merits close scrutiny to ensure Ireland’s interests and access to sustainable stocks are preserved,” said Deputy Deering.

“The Genomics Programme aims to boost the breeding and calf-rearing efficiency of suckler cattle and, in turn, reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of herds,” he said. “This is a multi-year project with exciting potential to help Ireland meet its carbon targets and boost farmers' livelihoods.”

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