asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in order to meet some of the very serious difficulties of the meat processing industry, he will be prepared to subsidise processed meat for the US market to the extent of 2p per lb.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meat Processing Industry.
32.
I have been examining urgently the present problems of the meat processing industry and consultations in the matter are proceeding. I will make an announcement on the position as quickly as possible and, meanwhile, I would not wish to comment on any specific suggestion, such as that in the Deputy's question.
The Minister is aware that the industry is going through a serious crisis at present. Has the Minister got all the parties concerned together to try to work out an immediate rescue operation with the longer term solution also to be discussed?
I have already met representatives of the workers and of management and if I thought it was necessary and desirable I would immediately bring these different parties together but currently, as I said in the reply, I hope to be in a position to make an announcement very soon. I am just as conscious as Deputy Clinton is of the urgency of this matter.
Is the Minister aware that the subsidy sought in this question would only allow a break-even position and would not enable them to make a profit—that is the people who process meat to the second stage? Is the Minister also aware that I am seeking a subsidy for that part of the industry that requires 140 men to process, 1,500 cows per week as against 18 for the export of meat in carcass form only.
Would the Minister accept that this is to a large extent an interim problem which will probably work itself out after a while due to a number of factors? The major factor in this case is that the trade is quite close to folding up and some interim injection of capital is necessary particularly in order to keep skilled workers available to our meat industry. If there is any closing down this is a matter of urgency. The skilled workers will be lost to the industry. Finally, what does the Minister mean by "as quickly as possible" because this is extremely urgent and "as quickly as possible" is not enough.
I am very conscious of the vital importance of this question especially as it affects the jobs of people in the industry. By saying "as quickly as possible" I mean that I hope to be in a position to make an announcement within a week.
In the course of his discussions with the meat processing industry would the Minister, when he gets all the parties concerned together, try to press them to get together in further processing meat so as to get it into a form when being sold which is as near to being on the plate as possible? I believe this is only possible if they all get together.
The immediate problem, the one to which Deputy Creed referred, the question of redundancies in the industry in the near future, is the most acute practical problem that must be dealt with.
It is accepted that cattle prices are quite good at present and that consequently producers are satisfied. Is it then right or just to ask the taxpaying public to subsidise this industry at present? I do not think it is.
Could I ask the Minister——
We cannot have a discussion on this. This is not a debate.
It is an important matter.
I am surprised at the Labour Party taking the view——
Do not be twisting now.
——that the jobs of the people in the industry are of relative importance.
The Minister is twisting now.
Arising further——
I am calling Question No. 33, to the Minister for Industry and Commerce. We cannot have a discussion on this.
On the basis that this was on the Order Paper, could I ask the Minister if he has the figures for slaughtering for both non-cow and cow beef for the month of January?
That is a separate question. It does not arise on Question No. 32.
Non-cow beef is down 60 per cent and cow beef is down around that figure as well.
Would Deputy Creed allow questions to continue? This has nothing to do with the question asked. I am calling Question No. 33.