asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the British Minister of Agriculture.
5.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meeting with British Minister.
4.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will report on his discussions with the British Minister of Agriculture regarding more satisfactory marketing arrangements; and whether improved transport facilities in England formed any part of the discussions.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose taking Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together.
At our meeting on 21st March, the British Minister and I had a further useful discussion on the cattle and beef trade between the two countries. Our discusssion covered the general features of the trade and the possibility of further improvements in the interests of both countries, including the question of trends in cattle and beef supplies over the year. While we did not come to final conclusions at this stage, we were able to clarify the main aspects arising.
The question of transport facilities for cattle and beef did not form part of my discussion with Mr. Peart but my Department has been keeping in close touch with the companies engaged in the transport of cattle and beef so as to ensure that the best possible transport facilities are provided.
Is it not a fact that transport arrangements in England have been pretty hopeless for almost two years, through shortage of wagons? Can anything now be done about the Fishguard line, when cattle are landed at Fishguard, to provide efficient transport? I see by to-day's paper that the Birkenhead position has improved as a result of the decision to provide road transport.
I am aware of the situation. I am further aware, as the Deputy now is, of the recently announced arrangements by B & I in regard to road transport substituting for the run-down wagon trade and it would appear at this juncture that the road transport facilities proposed are pretty well adequate but, again, we will find this out as we go along. We seem to be satisfied at the moment that it is a fair enough effort on their part to take our trade by road and we can only watch and wait and see how it works out.
What is the prospect of a similar sort of arrangement for Fishguard?
These things, as I say, are being kept under review. There are certain discussions going ahead in regard to the overall transportation of our cattle in order to try to improve the situation and, indeed, to prevent any disimprovement. Loading through Fishguard is being looked at.
Could the Minister say if arising out of the discussions generally, any positive steps are being taken by either Government to bring about more efficient arrangements for our exports of cattle?
Not necessarily arising from the discussions. I would not say that they have produced anything of any great worth in this regard other than to highlight and isolate the difficulties that were encountered some time back, not least of the contributing factors being the undue rush of cattle at one particular time of the year. We have learned a great deal from this experience and last year we utilised this knowledge and experience to obviate, through the co-operation of our farmers and exporters, any recurrence of this back-end glut.
There is no subsidy inducement?
Unless the increase announced last week, which, of course, is well known to all concerned.