Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed told the Dáil on Thursday that a recent update to the AIM system had made residency checks systematic when cattle are presented for export, either through direct sales or via the marts.

“Prior to 2017, the Department’s AIM computer system did not automatically carry out verification checks on compliance with the residency requirement,” Minister Creed explained.

“AIM has been recently updated, with the result that these export eligibility verification checks are now carried out and cattle presented for export that do not meet the eligibility requirements are rejected by the system.”

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’Minimal disruption’

Fianna Fáil’s spokesperson on agriculture Charlie McConalogue TD raised the issue of restrictions to the movements of cattle purchased in marts for export to Northern Ireland as a result of the stricter checks.

Minister Creed replied that the new arrangements were operating with “minimal disruption”. “A small number of minor technical and other anomalies that have been highlighted by exporters in relation to the operation of the AIM verification have been addressed or are in the process of being addressed,” he said.

Under EU legislation, cattle exported from Ireland to other EU member states, including Northern Ireland, must stay on the same holding for 29 days prior to export.

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