asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the total quantity in pounds of Irish creamery butter exported during the years ended 31st December, 1955, 1956, and 1957, (b) the countries to which the butter was exported, (c) the quantity exported to each country, and the price paid per pound by each country, (d) the amount per pound paid in subsidy by the Exchequer, (e) the total amount of subsidy paid on, or for, the exported butter during the three years, (f) the retail price per pound of Irish creamery butter in the State during the years 1955, 1956, and 1957, and (g) the retail price per pound of Irish creamery butter in Britain during the same years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Exports of Creamery Butter.
The answer to parts (a), (b) and (c) of the question is in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, will be circulated with the Official Report.
As regards parts (d) and (e) of the question, records of subsidy payments are not kept in respect of calendar years but are available for financial years. In the financial year 1955-56 commercial exports of creamery butter amounted to 5,910 cwt. on which subsidy amounting to £11.761 or 4.3 pence per lb. was paid. In 1956-57, 40,137 cwt. of butter were exported on which subsidy amounting to £355,016 or 1/7 per lb. was paid and in the current financial year 1957-58, 267,611 cwt. were exported from 1st April, 1957, to 31st December, 1957, on which subsidy, estimated at £2.2 million or 1/5.6d. per lb. is payable.
As to part (f) of the question, the national average retail price of creamery butter, as calculated quarterly by the Central Statistics Office for the official consumer price index was 3/9 per lb. in 1955 and 1956 and 4/2 per lb. in 1957.
The information requested at (g) in the question is not available in my Department or in the Central Statistics Office.
Following is the statement:—
EXPORTS of Creamery Butter in each of the Years, 1955, 1956, and 1957
|
1955 |
1956 |
1957 |
||||
|
Country of Destination |
Quantity |
Average f.o.b. price per lb. |
Quantity |
Average f.o.b. price per lb. |
Quantity |
Average f.o.b. price per lb. |
|
000 lb. |
s. d. |
000 lb. |
s. d. |
000 lb. |
s. d. |
|
|
Great Britain |
3.6 |
* |
6.9 |
* |
18,356.4 |
2 6 |
|
The Six Counties |
1,842.7 |
3 7 |
319.2 |
2 10 |
13,965.7 |
2 6 |
|
Germany (Federal Republic) |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1,921.0 |
3 1 |
|
British West Indies |
— |
— |
— |
— |
106.6 |
2 4 |
|
TOTAL |
1,846.3 |
3 7 |
326.1 |
2 10 |
34,349.7 |
2 6 |
*Exported to Exhibitions only.
Would the Minister agree that we are at present constrained to export butter to a market which is being largely demoralised by New Zealand and Danish exports of butter to the same market which are being heavily subsidised by their own Governments, in respect of the New Zealand exports to the tune of £8,000,000 to £12,000,000 in the last 18 months——
Surely that is an entirely separate matter?
If you look at the information given under (e) and (f)——
It seems to be a factual matter.
The facts could be susceptible to very grave——
What could be deduced from them is another matter.
I want to know does the Minister advert to the fact that the market is one which has been demoralised by heavy Government subsidies provided by the Governments of Denmark and New Zealand and which have artificially depressed that market in order to drive us out?
That is purely a separate matter.
I am sure the Minister will agree that he should not allow any other interested parties to drive us out of markets which are precious to us by a temporary raid on them by subsidising produce in the hope that we will find the going too hot. We should make the going as hot for them as they have made it for us.
There is no one here who can predict to what extent, or length of time the countries to which the Deputy has referred may continue their price support policy. We are all quite conscious of the issues involved and naturally will take every step possible——
Hear, hear!
——within the limits of our capacity, in regard to them. We shall have to take every step possible to see to it that these interests are protected to the maximum extent of our ability.