asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware of the very serious fall in cattle and sheep prices which has adversely affected the farmers of County Mayo to the extent that many more families are forced to emigrate, and that as a result several homes have closed; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Livestock Prices.
35.
As regards cattle prices, I dealt fully with the position in my reply to Questions Nos. 29 and 30 by Deputies Corish and T. O'Donnell.
While the market for sheep and lambs has been somewhat affected by the present export market situation for cattle and beef, fat lamb prices are only marginally below prices at this time last year.
I would remind the Deputy that a number of important measures to benefit the sheep industry have been introduced in recent months. The Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement provides for extension as from 1st July, 1966 of the British fatstock guarantee payments to 5,500 tons of Irish carcase mutton and lamb per annum and the Government have undertaken to support to the same extent any quantities of eligible mutton and lamb exported to Britain in excess of that quantity. In addition, the Agreement provides for the reduction in the waiting period for which Irish store sheep and store lambs have to be held on UK farms before qualifying for the British fatstock guarantee payments and also for the abolition of the ¾d per lb. deduction from the guarantee payment in the case of store sheep and store lambs imported from this country.
As a further help to sheep owners including those in Western areas I introduced the Mountain Sheep Subsidy Schemes on 1st August. The Wether Lamb Subsidy Scheme provides for payment of 10/- each on Blackface Mountain or Cheviot wether lambs sold off the hills and the Hogget Ewe Subsidy Scheme for payment of £1 each on Greyface and Half-bred hogget ewes produced from crossing Border Leicester rams with Blackface Mountain and Cheviot ewes.
In conjunction with these schemes my Department undertook a comprehensive scheme of organising, advertising and promoting sheep sales. Both of these schemes for this year were due to end on 30th September but I extended the period of operation of the Wether Lamb Subsidy Scheme to 15th October in order to assist flockowners in the marketing of their lambs, some of which have been backward because of the harsh spring.
I am satisfied that these various measures have contributed significantly to helping sheep and lamb producers in a difficult market situation and I think I should remind the Deputy that they are the first positive steps ever taken in this country to supplement the income of the sheep producer by direct Government action.
May I inquire from the Minister——
The remaining Questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
Am I not entitled to ask a supplementary question?
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
Am I not entitled to ask——
Not now.
May I ask the Minister a supplementary question tomorrow?
The Ceann Comhairle has made an order.
I do not mind a supplementary from a fellow Mayoman.
I shall allow one supplementary question.
Will the Minister state why it is that cattle and sheep are unsaleable at fairs and markets in the west of Ireland at the present time? They are absolutely unsaleable.
Does the Deputy think it was worth while waiting for a stupid question like that?
The Minister does not give a damn about the small farmers.
Does the Minister allege it is stupid to inquire about the plight of the small farmers who attend fairs and markets in the west of Ireland?
An arrogant reply.
Order of business.
The Ceann Comhairle has made an order.
I do not make orders against the wishes of the House. I have called on the Minister for Local Government for the Order of Business.