asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether, in view of the continuing surplus production of butter in the EEC, he will make every endeavour to encourage a greater emphasis on beef production within the Community; and as a beginning if he will restore the calf subsidy administered by his Department to its former level.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beef Production.
123.
The introduction of a special scheme designed to encourage increased production of beef has been agreed in principle by the EEC and the details are at present the subject of discussion among the member states. My Department does not operate any calf subsidy scheme but in case the Deputy has in mind the beef cattle incentive scheme it is not the intention to alter the level of grants at present payable under that scheme.
Thanks for the correction. May I ask the Minister whether what is coming from the EEC and the discussions and negotiation that have taken place is an improvement on the best or highest level that we already had under the beef subsidy scheme and whether that, in fact, is the reason why he is not prepared to revert to the former rather modest level of subsidy that was payable up to this year?
The Deputy should know that in 1969-70 the amount paid was £1,837,188 under this scheme and in 1973-74 the amount will be £8,400,000. The amount of money being paid out under this scheme at present is quite substantial.
This surely is proof that the scheme was an excellent one. The fact that more is being demanded from the resources of the Department is proof of this.
We are having a statement now.
Will the Minister consider restoring it instead of willy-nilly reducing it and claiming that——
Deputy Crinion is seeking to get in.
In view of the Minister's statement that the price of beef cattle could be reduced by £21 per head, will this not create disillusionment among farmers rearing young cattle and would the Minister say whether there is still a good future for the beef industry?
Of course, I would say there is still a good future for the beef industry. There is still a world shortage of beef and we still have the intervention mechanism there. Farmers generally know what was negotiated under the Treaty of Accession and they know that prices cannot drop to anything like disaster level.
Question No. 124. We cannot remain on this question all day.
It is very serious and very important.
All questions are very important.
Would the Minister not agree that £21 a head, or anything near it, is a very big drop in the price of cattle?
Yes, but there is no immediate prospect of a drop of £21 per head. That is the worst situation that could be reached.
Is it not true that Yugoslavia, a third country, has got special arrangements for the export to Italy of young feeder cattle free of duty? That being the case, should it not also be possible for us, a member country, to get special concessions as probably the biggest cattle exporter of the Nine?
It is only fair that I should say I resisted special concessions for the export to Italy of what I described as immature cattle—calves and cattle up to six hundredweight. I resisted this on the advice and with the agreement of the farmers' organisations.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Allen. The Chair has called on Deputy Allen and the Chair should be obeyed.
Was the Minister satisfied with what was decided on by the Ministers for Agriculture of the EEC countries and would he agree that whatever influence he had he has now lost it?
I do not know where I am supposed to have lost the influence but I cannot renegotiate the Treaty of Accession.
(Interruptions.)
Restore the subsidy.
Deputy Callanan.
(Interruptions.)
The Chair has called on Deputy Callanan. Deputies must pay some respect to the Chair or the Chair will have to insist upon it.
Is it not a fact that Italy got permission to import cattle and we would not give them the type of cattle they wanted?
We will give them the cattle but we will tariff them.