asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is satisfied that the excessive export of store cattle on the hoof will not result in a depletion of the available stocks of suitable cattle for the dead meat export trade.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Export of Store Cattle.
56.
The measures taken to promote substantially increased cattle production are proving successful and this is the best way to benefit all branches of the export trade.
I do not think that the Minister has answered the question. Does he not think that excessive export of store cattle on the hoof could affect the dead meat trade and would the Minister not agree that it is most important that no action would be taken or anything allowed to happen which would adversely affect the dead meat trade on which so many people depend for employment?
If cattle production were restricted, there would, I suppose, be some conflict of interest between the store trade, on the one hand, and the dead meat trade, on the other, in so far as both trades would be competing for limited supply, but the whole purpose of our livestock policy at the moment is to increase cattle production so that sufficient supplies will be available to meet the demands of both the store trade and the dead meat trade. This policy is proving very successful. The total numbers of cattle have increased substantially. As a matter of fact, in so far as the two trades are concerned, the recent picture is that exports of stores have declined somewhat this year as against last year, whereas slaughterings in meat factories are increasing fairly satisfactorily.
Could we take it that if there were any indication that the export of store cattle would affect the dead meat trade and it was so proven to the Minister's satisfaction, he would be prepared to take action?
I have already done so in introducing the scheme of guaranteed payments for dead meat exported to the United Kingdom.
I should have said "effective action".