asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the basis on which his Department calculates that the increases in payments under the Beef Export Guarantee Scheme, announced on 30th March, 1971, will amount to an extra burden of £2 million on the Irish Exchequer.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beef Export Guarantee Scheme.
54.
First, I would point out that what my Department's announcement of 30th March stated was that the increase being made for the year 1971-72 in the level of export support payments on carcase beef "could" cost the Irish Exchequer "nearly" an extra £2 million in that year.
This potential extra cost was calculated on the basis that the amounts of the support payments which would actually fall due throughout the year would be not less than the amounts by which the guaranteed price levels were being seasonally increased and that there would be an increase of about 20 per cent in the quantities exported during the year 1971-72 as compared with 1970-71. The total potential extra cost on this basis would be approximately £2,650,000 but the amount in respect of the increase in the guaranteed price levels which would fall to be met on the same basis by the British Government under the Free Trade Area Agreement on 25,000 tons would be approximately £680,000, thereby reducing the potential extra cost falling on the Irish Exchequer to approximately £1.97 million. I am hopeful that beef market prices will continue strong and that the actual extra cost in 1971-72 will not reach this figure.
Will the Minister state how he can square this prediction of an extra expenditure of nearly £2 million by the Irish Exchequer with the Estimates for 1971-72 which show a reduction of over £1 million on the amount actually expended in beef and lamb exports support in 1971-72? How can you spend £2 million more while allocating only £1 million less?
The Deputy must have heard the reply I made to a previous question that you cannot predict with deadly accuracy any fluctuations in the next six months.
Question No. 55.
Would the Minister not agree——
Would Deputy Bruton allow Questions to continue? We have just two minutes.
Would the Minister not agree——
The Deputy's next question.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply I propose, with your permission, to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
That will be three of them.
£3 million is a little bit more than deadly accuracy.
Order. Question No. 55.