asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if the Government favour the export of beef on the hoof rather than the export of processed beef.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beef Exports.
19.
I do not understand why the Deputy should expect official favouring of the export of live cattle in preference to the export of processed beef. An economic trade in processed beef exports to the maximum extent possible would be of national benefit. This is not to say, of course, that there is no place for live cattle exports.
Could I ask the Minister if he would hope, as a result of the reorganisation of CBF, which he has recently carried out, to achieve a better proportion of exports in the processed form? Incidently, I should like to say that I believe the Minister's reorganisation of CBF was a wise decision and I congratulate him on it. Could he say, that he would hope for a greater quantity of beef exports in processed form?
As the Deputy knows from his own experience, there is very little pressure, if any, that I can use as Minister to compel people to channel their cattle through the processing industry. All of us would wish to see this happening. I certainly hope that the enlargement of the hoard will lead to more efficient processing and better marketing and that this in itself will provide sufficient inducement for the farmers.
Could I say that the Minister's recent steps to reorganise CBF was a very welcome step in that direction?
Could I ask the Minister if it is not so that a change in the system of the subsidy being paid three years ago, almost to the month, is largely responsible for the difficulties and the decline that took place some lime ago in the processed meat trade?
I do not know exactly lo what the Deputy is referring when he talks about a change in the subsidy.
Three years ago.
There is very little we can do about what happened three years ago.
I am just asking for the facts of the situation.