asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of sheep inspected for subsidy at the ports of Greenore and Dublin since 25th January, 1974; the total amount of subsidy approved for payment on such sheep; whether similar facilities are available to all sheep exporters for the purpose of qualifying sheep for export; and if he will state the actual conditions necessary to qualify such sheep for subsidy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sheep Subsidy.
22.
The number inspected was 7,800 and the total amount approved is £4,882.50 on 3,255 sheep.
Under the extension to the mountain lamb subsidy scheme the subsidy may be paid to any sheep exporter in respect of whether lambs already passed under the scheme at the summer inspections which are adjudged on export to be of such quality as will produce a carcase of specified standard. I am sending the Deputy a copy of the detailed scheme.
Were applicants in the past refused the subsidy because their sheep were for export?
I am not aware that that has happened.
I should like to refer the Minister to my question——
How far back did it happen?
How far back can the Minister go?
I am trying to find out whether I refused it.
I am not saying that this Minister did so. Can he say that the same treatment was given to applicants for this subsidy in the past as was given to the present gentlemen who applied for it?
I cannot answer that. I may be inclined to be over-generous to farmers generally but——
I am sure the Minister is aware that self praise does not cut much ice with Members of the House——
The Deputy must ask a question.
I want an assurance from the Minister that no special treatment was given in this instance. The treatment given by his Department was the same as that given to all applicants for subsidies.
I cannot imagine that the officials in my Department would give grants to people because of the colour of their eyes. I am sure this scheme was operated as it has always been operated.
Question No. 23.
I am sure the Minister is aware that I have no doubt about the integrity of the Civil Service, as I made clear in my Estimate contribution. I want an assurance from him that no preferential treatment was given in this instance over any other application made.
All I can say is that it was given without my intervention.
Does the Minister agree——
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy must respect the Chair. I have given him a lot of latitude.
The Deputy does respect the Chair. Does the Minister feel that the export of live sheep was detrimental to our factories over the last few months? Would he like to make some comment on this?
It depends on the type of sheep being exported. My information is that a substantial percentage of sheep being exported live consists of rams. This, of course, does not mean that all the sheep exported were rams. The last export I think was mainly hoggets.
Does the Minister agree——
Deputy Lemass for a final supplementary.
Does the Minister——
I said I was bringing in Deputy Lemass for a final supplementary. The Chair must be obeyed at some stage. I have given Deputy Allen a lot of latitude.
This is terribly important because of the amount of——
Deputy Lemass.
Has the Minister seen reports of the inhumane conditions under which these sheep were exported and can he assure me——
The Deputy is expanding on the subject matter of the question.
Can the Minister assure me that these sheep were not exported under inhumane conditions and that we will not have the situation we had in relation to horses some years ago?
I am so assured. I understand that there is an arrangement whereby from the middle of this month sheep will not normally be exported live to these regions because of previous experience.