asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the method by which payments backdated to March, 1974, will be made to Irish farmers in the beef and dairy sectors.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beef and Dairy Payments.
12.
The detailed arrangements to be made for backdating to 4th March, 1974, the price increases in the beef and milk sectors have yet to be announced from Brussels.
Could the Minister be more specific as to how this system will operate? I am sure he is aware of the great confusion existing at present. Some of the factories have worked out a system of payment and others have not. It might be wise if the Minister could clear the air a little at this time.
I think it was generally understood by the Ministers when this decision on retrospection was reached that it would apply only to beef going into intervention. A limited number of factories are putting beef into intervention and they would know where this came from and they are in a position to make their own arrangements with the producers. But it is to the factories it would be paid and therefore the Government have not the distribution of it.
Is the Minister satisfied that the increases we are discussing will eventually be passed on to the farmers?
I am only hopeful. This is something that must be arranged between the processors and the farmers. The processors who put the beef into intervention get back any retrospective payment and it is up to them to distribute it fairly.
Can the Minister give any guarantee that the money will get back to the farmers? We had this situation before.
The processors are depending on the farmers and if they do not treat the farmers fairly, there is a way for the farmers to deal with that.