With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 22 together.
The IDA decision to grant-aid the provision of up to 1 million cubic feet of storage for intervention beef was taken in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Apart from the fact that the right to sell to intervention is an element of the Common Agricultural Policy of the EEC it is essential for the continued viability of the Irish meat processing industry that the companies in the industry should have this right when market prices are unfavourable. Because of the present market situation more beef is now being sold to ‘intervention' than had originally been anticipated and this has resulted in considerable pressure on existing storage facilities. I am not therefore prepared to ask the Industrial Development Authority to alter their decision. The Government's policy of restraining price increases must be operated in such a way that it will not cause a decline in economic activity by preventing producers from being compensated for increased costs.