asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that with the collapse of the U.S.A. market for prime carcase beef, several carcase meat plants in Ireland are in danger of collapse; and whether, in view of this, he will secure forthwith the release of cattle and sheep skins from control so as to ensure an economic return to the dead meat industry for these offals, instead of the present uneconomic price after £3 per hide levy has been imposed for the benefit of the leather, boot and shoe manufacturers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Release of Hides.
So far as I am aware there is no foundation for the statement in the first part of the question that several carcase meat plants in Ireland are in danger of collapse. Neither is there any justification for the statement that a levy of £3 perhide has been imposed for the benefit of the leather, boot and shoe manufacturers.
So far as hides arising from current carcase beef exports are concerned the export of such hides is permitted and world prices are obtainable.
Applications by carcase mutton exporters for permission to export sheep pelts are dealt with on their merits and in the light of the overall supply position.
Is the Minister aware that the market for prime carcase beef in the United States of America has collapsed and is no longer economic, and that the plants established now depend as to 95 per cent. on the market available on marketing the beef in Great Britain? Is the Minister further aware that the price differential between carcase beef and beef on the hoof is founded on the assumption that the carcase meat men here can get the world price for hides, while, in fact, the carcase meat men here are getting about 1/- per lb., whereas the world price is 1/6 to 1/8 per lb. owing to the restriction on the type of person who is licensed to deal in hides? Will the Minister say what reason he has for retaining control of the hide market, seeing that we have now a large surplus of hides over and above the total requirement of the tanning, boot and shoe industry?
The Deputy has got the story completely the wrong way around.
I have not.
The carcase meat exporters are allowed to export hides without restriction. The levy imposed on the tanners is for the purpose of making payments to the carcase meat exporters.
Is the Minister aware that, at the present time, the price payable for hides flayed off cattle in this country is substantially less than the price paid for those hides by the world markets?
The carcase meat exporters are allowed to export.
Why does the Minister want to retain control of the business with all the consequential inconvenience and juggling that there is?
Because you instituted the arrangement and left me with a debt of £500,000 due to the carcase meat exporters. That £500,000 has to be paid, and there is no other means of paying that debt except by a levy on the hides used by Irish tanners.
Wait a moment. There is not a shadow of foundation for your statement.
Well, someone claimed they were owed the £500,000.
The canners, who have been making millions on cattle exports, could pay it, and they should have been made pay it. They are well able to afford to pay it, and if you fail to make them pay it that is your funeral.
Is not that precisely what we are doing?
No. You are making the farmers pay and not the canners.
Arising out of the Minister's original reply, is he aware that the canning industry in Castlebar dispensed with 200 employees within the last three or four weeks as a result of the collapse of the dead meat industry? What does the Minister propose to do about it?
If the Deputy is referring to the canning industry, there is no foundation for the statement that the canning industry has collapsed.
Is it not a fact that several factories have closed down?
Several new ones have been opened up.
The men I referred to have been sacked.
Question No. 9.