asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the possibility that pigs will be bought by intervention and of the effect this will have in reducing the price to Irish producers, he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pig Prices.
4.
Pig prices here continue to be well above the intervention level and I am not, therefore, envisaging an intervention situation for our pigmeat.
Is the Minister aware that there is a danger of there being no market for pigmeat? That may happen in the coming months. In such circumstances would there be intervention buying, which would be at a reduced price?
Our information would not suggest that intervention would be necessary in this area. There has been a fall in the pig-breeding herd, as disclosed in the April census, and this would seem to suggest that this shortage should maintain price here and that there would not be a possibility of intervention in this area at any rate but, as the Deputy is aware, over the whole of agriculture there is great uncertainty at present, uncertainty from which all of the Community countries are suffering.