asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether he was asked by the British Minister of Agriculture to cease granting the temporary subsidy on fat cattle exported to Britain; if so, when this request was made by the British Minister; and whether he has undertaken to accede to it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fat Cattle Export Subsidy.
34.
Mr. O'Leary
During the discussions which I had with the British Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in October about trade in livestock and meat, he expressed the hope that the scheme of headage payments on exports of Irish fat cattle to Britain would be terminated as soon as possible. I explained to the British Minister that these headage payments became necessary because of the low level of British purchases of Irish store cattle this year; that the scheme was announced as a temporary one to meet special circumstances, and that it is the intention to terminate it at the end of November.
Mr. O'Leary
Is the Minister not aware that the Minister in the British House of Commons made a statement that he had been annoyed or disturbed by the Irish Government's measures and that he had taken action immediately by telling the Irish Minister for Agriculture to cease immediately these payments and that he had received an undertaking from the Irish Minister that these payments would cease immediately? Is this the position?
That is not the position and has not been the position. I have discussed this matter on two occasions with my British counterpart, and that was not the position.
Is the payment of that subsidy in any way in contravention of the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement?
It is not, no.
Mr. O'Leary
Is the Minister saying the British Minister was wrongly reported?
No. I do not agree with the Deputy's version of what the British Minister is alleged to have said.
Does the Minister expect that when this subsidy is dropped, cattle prices will fall by a further £4 or £5 a head?
Why should the Deputy attempt to talk down the cattle market in this way?
I was in the cattle market this morning. That is why I am talking it down.
Does the Minister say this subsidy will definitely cease at the end of this month or will it be reconsidered?
It has already been clearly announced that it will terminate.
Is this under pressure from the other side?
Not at all. This subsidy arrangement was originally introduced with the intention of terminating it at the end of October. Because I feared that its termination at the end of October in the middle of the off-the-grass season might lead to a rush of cattle coming on to the market in the last weeks of October, I extended it.
Mr. O'Leary
The British Minister of Agriculture gave no direction it was to end at a certain time?
Not at all. The British Minister and I completely understand each other's position in this regard. We both have our own separate jobs to do and we work in the closest co-operation.