asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the increase in the guaranteed price of beef in Great Britain for the year beginning July next, and the very unfavourable differential in the price of Irish beef he will say what steps have been taken to secure an increase in the export price of beef, and what results have attended such representations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Export Price of Beef.
Representations have been made to the British Ministry of Food for increases in the prices already fixed for our fat cattle for the coming 12 months equivalent to the increases proposed in the case of British home-bred fat stock. I am awaiting the result of these representations.
Does the Minister say that the prices have already been fixed for the coming 12 months?
Yes. They have announced that there will be a general average, but they have not allocated that average yet.
The prices have already been fixed and the Minister is making representations?
The British Government have guaranteed their own producers an average price of about 2/- in the case of cattle and 1?d. in the case of mutton, but they have not allocated that yet. We are making representations that the same should apply to our stuff.
The Minister is not asking for more than that, because, as he is aware, there is a differential so far as the price of Irish beef is concerned, which is operating against winter feeding?
We have been asking continuously to have that made right, too.