Agriculture Schemes

Tuesday, 16 December 2025

Questions (792, 793)

Paul Lawless

Question:

792. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Livestock Breeding, Production and Trade Division (LBPTD) of his Department is the designated section responsible for the oversight and approval functions set out in regulation (EU) 2016/1012, including the approval and ongoing monitoring of breeding bodies and breeding programmes in accordance with articles four, eight and 12 of the regulation; the approval, designation and supervision of third parties carrying out performance recording, genetic evaluations or breeding-related activities under Article 27; ensuring compliance with the autonomy and non-discrimination requirements contained in article 14; if not, which section of his Department is responsible for these statutory functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71882/25]

View answer

Paul Lawless

Question:

793. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which officials from his Department who are appointed to governance roles within designated third-party breeding organisations such as organisations (details supplied) are able to fulfil their fiduciary duties of independence, impartiality, loyalty to the State, accountability, due care and transparency; the way these officials can remain fully compliant with Article 41(b) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012, which requires that officials performing official controls must be free from conflicts of interest, particularly where they may exercise both regulatory oversight and governance authority over the same organisations; if he will provide details of the structural safeguards, recusal mechanisms, audit trails and reassignment procedures in place to ensure that conflicts of interest cannot arise in the first instance, rather than relying solely on self-declarations after such conflicts have materialised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71883/25]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 792 and 793 together.

The Division of Livestock Breeding, Production and Trade (LBPT) is the designated section within my Department responsible for the implementation of all aspects of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012.

In accordance with the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, officials complete and submit a Declaration of Conflict of Interest to line management and outline where any conflict or a perceived conflict may be relevant to their position. This also applies to Department officials who are appointed to governance roles within the named organisations. If or when required, mitigating actions will be implemented to deal with any conflict of interest that may arise.

Question No. 793 answered with Question No. 792.