asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that the differential which will obtain in the summer and autumn months as between the British subsidy rate and the subsidy rate payable to beef exporters and farmers in the Republic will militate against such exports from the Republic and may cause unnecessary unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Beef Subsidy Rates.
92.
I do not accept the suggestion in the first part of the question. As stated when the beef export subsidy arrangements for 1971-72 were announced at the end of March the graduated scale of the increased level of support for carcase beef is intended to encourage a greater proportion of marketings of fat cattle in spring and early summer, when the export factories are short of supplies and market prices are best. At present exports are heaviest in the late autumn when markets tend to be over-supplied and prices are lowest. It is therefore desirable to encourage more over-wintering of cattle here, especially with the increasing stock numbers in the country, and this will also assist the economy of throughput in the export factories by less seasonal fluctuation of their supplies and better continuity of marketings throughout the year.