asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that yearling cattle on which subsidies have been paid by the Northern Ireland Government are being taken across the Border and offered for sale in the Republic at similar prices to home produced cattle; and if he will take steps to make the public aware of the difference in market value between the two types of cattle.
Ceisteanna—Questions (Resumed). - Sale of Six County Cattle in Republic.
8.
Yearling cattle would not normally have received subsidy under the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme in the Six Counties, but any cattle which receive that subsidy would not be eligible for support under our Beef Export Price Guarantee Scheme if subsequently imported here and slaughtered for export to Britain. Animals which have received the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme subsidy in the Six Counties are readily identifiable by punch holes in their ears, and these identification marks are well-known to those connected with the cattle trade here.