26 Mr. Foley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, he has initiated to accelerate the development of new beef breeds to ensure the quality of the Irish herd into the future. [3145/97]

33 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has initiated to ensure the genetic development of the beef herd and its competitiveness. [3137/97]

45 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has initiated to ensure the genetic development of the beef herd and its competitiveness. [3138/97]

48 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, he has initiated to accelerate the development of new beef breeds to ensure the quality of the Irish herd into the future. [3144/97]

60 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has initiated to ensure the genetic development of the beef herd and its competitiveness. [3139/97]

61 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, he has initiated to accelerate the development of new beef breeds to ensure the quality of the Irish herd into the future. [3142/97]

63 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has initiated to ensure the genetic development of the beef herd and its competitiveness. [3141/97]

64 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, he has initiated to accelerate the development of new beef breeds to ensure the quality of the Irish herd into the future. [3143/97]

72 Mr. Foley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has initiated to ensure the genetic development of the beef herd and its competitiveness. [3140/97]

76 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, he has initiated to accelerate the development of new beef breeds to ensure the quality of the Irish herd into the future. [3146/97]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 33, 45, 48, 60, 61, 63, 64, 72 and 76 together.

The range of breeds available in Ireland is adequate to meet the diverse needs of the industry and the marketplace. There is a multiplicity of beef breeds available in Ireland and there is an open policy in regard to the importation of breeds from other countries. In the circumstances I do not consider there is a compelling requirement for the development of new breeds.

The key to future progress lies in the expansion of the national cattle breed improvement programme and an upgrading of the systems for genetic evaluation.

The current national programme for the genetic improvement of the beef herd involves the following components; on-farm recording of weight for age and linear assessment in pedigree beef herds; central performance testing in the tully performance test station selected young pedigree bulls; central progeny testing of bulls in AI for growth and carcase traits and ease of calving; importation of superior genetic material from other countries.