asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what steps he proposes to take to deal with the present high price of meat.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meat Prices.
The current price of meat has been the subject of examination by the Prices Advisory Body. They have reported that the recent increases are attributable entirely to the increased prices payable by victuallers for live stock and can be fairly related to those prices. In the circumstances I do not consider that there are any effective steps which I can take to secure a reduction in meat prices.
No doubt the Minister is aware that the present high prices of meat in Dublin are based on the assumption that the butchers are paying the maximum price for cattle in the market and in view of the fact that they do not buy prime heifer beef but cow beef which is much cheaper, would the Minister not consider having the butchers grade their meat and have them certified as selling grade heifer beef or grade cow beef?
That is a very different type of question from the one on the Order Paper. This matter has been examined in detail by the Prices Advisory Body. The Prices Advisory Body reported that the recent increases in the price of meat are due entirely to the fact——
Was there a public inquiry by the Prices Advisory Body on the price of meat?
I did not say that. I said that the matter was examined by the Prices Advisory Body and they reported to me that the increase is due entirely to the fact that the butchers have to pay more for the meat. My function is to regulate profit margins, not to fix the price of meat in the markets.
What about the result to the consumer?
My function in the matter is to watch the profit margins, and see if there is any undue profit-taking there. I have no power or function in the matter of fixing the price of cattle on the markets.