asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware of the grave effect on fat cattle and meat exports which the withdrawal of the existing export subsidy will cause; and what alternative proposals he has to avert the collapse of fat cattle and carcase meat exports in the coming year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Export Subsidy.
32.
I do not agree that the discontinuance of the scheme of guarantee payments will have a grave effect on fat cattle and meat exports, nor have I grounds for assuming that these exports will collapse in the coming year.
Would the Minister not agree it would have a grave effect on the export of carcase meat from this country? Beef prices were reduced at the end of March and would the Minister think that a healthy sign for the trade?
We had better wait and see.