asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the reason for the drop in the prices of young cattle; and when producers can hope to get a fair price.
55.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Prices.
54.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that the drop in young cattle prices is causing considerable anxiety among small farmers; and what action he intends to take in the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 55 together.
While the prices of young cattle in recent months have not reached the record levels of the early part of 1965, they have been at about the same levels as in the corresponding part of 1964. Prices this year have, of course, been affected by the adverse weather in recent months but with improved weather conditions and with grass becoming more plentiful it is reasonable to expect that the market for young cattle will now tend to improve, although the full benefits of the improvement may be delayed somewhat by the effects of the shipping strike.
The prices of older cattle are, of course, supported by the subsidy on exports of carcase beef to Britain and by the arrangement whereby Irish store cattle fattened in Britain or Northern Ireland qualify for guarantee payments under the British Fatstock Guarantee Scheme. These valuable support arrangements have a significant influence on the prices of all cattle here, including those of young cattle.
Surely the Minister is aware that small cattle are at least £5 to £10 per head less than they have been for the past few years and that they are unsaleable? Farmers today are taking them from one fair to another, just as they were during the Economic War, and there is nobody to buy them. What does the Minister intend to do about it, or is he waiting until the small farmers are wiped off the land of Ireland altogether?
Has the Minister any personal experience of the price of small cattle at the moment? Does he know anything about them or is he reading from a brief somebody in his Department wrote for him because, if he is, the brief is entirely incorrect?
Has the Minister no regard for the small farmers. Is he not prepared to answer questions in relation to them? He got his answer last week although he tried to buy them.
Next question.