asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has noted the unsatisfactory prices for livestock over the past few weeks; and what plans he has to improve the markets.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Livestock Prices.
18.
Cattle and sheep prices here for some weeks have been affected by the British seamen's strike.
A number of measures have been taken in recent times or are at present in hands to improve the position of our livestock trade. These include—
(a) the extension, secured under the Free Trade Area Agreement, of the United Kingdom fat stock guarantee payments to 25,000 tons of Irish carcase beef and 5,500 tons of Irish carcase lamb per annum exported to the UK and the decision by the Government here to support to the same extent eligible exports to the UK in excess of these quantities from 1st July onwards.
(b) the substantial reduction, under the Agreement, in the waiting period during which Irish store cattle, sheep and lambs have to be held on UK farms in order to qualify for the fat stock guarantee payments;
(c) the abolition of the deduction of ¾d per lb carcase weight from the guarantee payments in the case of store sheep and lambs exported to the UK;
(d) the appointment by me of a study group to examine all aspects of the store cattle trade and make recommendations;
(e) exhibits of Irish store cattle at shows in Britain;
(f) advertising campaigns in the British agricultural press, to the cost of which my Department is contributing.
Could the Minister indicate if any other recent markets have been secured anywhere which would offset the position of having just the one market we seem to enjoy at present?
We have, of course, a very substantial and satisfactory trade to the Continent in livestock and meat products.
It is a different type of market from that available in the United Kingdom. Would the Minister agree with that?
Yes.
Because of that, does the Minister not consider it would be advisable to seek markets on a parallel with the existing British market so that we can have a basis of competition in the sales of our cattle and other livestock?
There is plenty of competition in this trade. In the case of the United Kingdom, there is constant competition between the requirements of the store trade, on the one hand, and the fat cattle trade, on the other. Both these trades are competing with the export, live and dead, to the Continent. Recently the boneless beef trade to the United States has revived and is beginning to develop again.
Has the Minister seen the repeated references to the ill-effects of the bank strike on the cattle trade at the present time and will he use his influence with the Minister for Industry and Commerce——
To do what?
——to try to bring about a settlement of the bank strike?
They are negotiating. What would the Deputy do?
Something more than nothing.
Bring in an Act to prohibit the bank managers from locking out their workers. There is a good start for you. That is something that should not be tolerated.
Fine Gael always speak with six or seven different voices.