asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will now make a statement on the outcome of recent discussions between his Department and the British Minister for Agriculture regarding the cattle trade; if he intends to introduce a cattle subsidy to encourage farmers to hold on to their cattle; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Trade.
8.
The discussions with the British authorities on the cattle and beef trade between the two countries have not yet concluded and it would serve no useful purpose to try to anticipate their outcome at this stage. As I indicated in reply to questions on 13th July, I shall make a statement in the matter as soon as possible.
Can the Minister give any reason for the catastrophic drop in cattle prices at the present time and the fact that small farmers cannot sell small cattle even at £10 less than they were fetching this time 12 months ago? Is there any hope or any future for them?
That is a different question.
The Minister will recall I think that on two previous occasions he said that the talks between himself and Mr. Peart, and subsequently between officers of his Department and officers of the British Ministry of Agriculture, were proceeding and he hoped to be in a position to make a statement or an announcement before the House went into recess. Is there now no prospect of such a statement being made?
That is not what is to be taken from it. I think possibly when I made the suggestion in regard to the House rising, my thoughts in regard to this were that it was likely to be somewhat delayed as against what it is likely to be. Secondly, the fact that I might not have reached the position where I could make my decision on those thoughts before the House rises does not mean that there will not be a statement when the talks have concluded.
Does the Minister appreciate that naturally there was reluctance on the part of this House to interrogate the Minister with regard to this matter and so make his task a little more difficult but the people in the country, especially the small farmers, are awaiting the outcome of those talks?
I am fully aware of that. I am also aware of the fact that a number of Deputies, including Deputy Dillon, refrained from a strict interrogation, as it were, in this matter a week or ten days ago. I appreciate this very much. I would say in so far as my outlook on this matter is concerned that I am fully alive to the fact that some statement in regard to those talks is very much awaited by farmers and in particular, the small farmers. As soon as it is capable of being made, I will make such a statement.
Could the Minister give an approximate date when he will be in a position to make the statement?
I could not, for the simple reason that the talks have not really concluded. I obviously cannot say when I can make a statement when the talks have not concluded.
Is the Minister aware that the cause of all the concern here is the fact that the subsidy is being paid to the meat factories instead of to the farmers? Has he any idea when he can pay this subsidy to the farmers directly?
That is a separate question.
No, it is not.
Could the Minister say if he has reached a decision in regard to some inducement to farmers to hold over their cattle to the end of the year?
This matter, and indeed the matter raised by Deputy L'Estrange, are matters which are inter-related and I am afraid I cannot answer either of these two questions specifically at the moment.
Is the Minister aware that the situation in the cattle industry is now causing serious concern? Would he undertake to give a definite statement and clarify the matter as soon as possible as it is a matter of extreme urgency?
I can assure the Deputy and the other Members of the House that the expectations of the coming months have been causing me concern for many months past and I am quite alive to the situation as it is at the moment. Anything I can do, and which can be done by the Government, will be done and as soon as we can. That is as much as I can safely say at the moment: as far as possible I will do something.
Does the Minister realise that the position has worsened even within the past week?
It has worsened considerably in the past two weeks.