asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of calves exported from Ireland during 1973, 1974 and at the latest available date in 1975.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Calf Exports.
9.
Exports of calves were 1,325 head in 1973, 4,136 head in 1974 and are estimated at about 75,000 head in the first ten months of 1975.
Does the Minister not accept that the bottom is being knocked out of the future of the Irish cattle trade by the permission that seems to be forthcoming from the Government for the skimming off of the very best of the Irish calf crop of this year? Can the Minister not envisage the enormous loss to the Irish economy in selling the basis of the cattle herd of this country in two years' time? Is it not shortsighted and foolish policy?
The Deputy is aware that we cannot impose any restriction on the export of calves.
Yes, you can. I did in my time.
No. We cannot. We are in the EEC now.
You can withdraw the licences.
You could do that before we joined the Community but you cannot do it any more and the Deputy knows that well.
Does the Minister not see this very vital point that in the arrangement come to by the Italians last year for the payment of a calf subsidy, this was to be paid in two halves? The second half was to be paid when the calf reached the age of 12 months. If a similar scheme were introduced here it would be necessary for the producers to retain the calf for 12 months in this country. If the Minister did that it would be no longer possible for multi-national companies that are producing tens of thousands of cattle with subsidised maize in northern Italy to come to Ireland and raid our cattle herd as they are doing?
The Deputy knows that the Italian arrangement was for one year only and has to be reviewed at price-fixing time in the coming year. I have given as my opinion—and I have not given it lightly; I have given it as a result of a good deal of discussion with farmers and farm organisations—that farmers would not be prepared to accept in substitution for all other aids a calf subsidy similar to the Italian subsidy.
Surely it is not necessary to trade in everything against a calf subsidy? And surely the Minister will be able to point out to the Commission that the very future of the Irish cattle herd is at stake and that the decimation of the Irish herd that is taking place is in no way comparable to what is happening to the herds in the rest of the Community?
We are having repetition.
There is no question of decimation. We have more than 2 million breeding cows——
In the dairy herd.
Yes. I wish they were all in the dairy herd.
I should like to know the percentage of calves exported to third countries?
It was extremely small.
Could we have any indication of how many?
Only a few hundred calves.
That went to Greece, for example?
Yes, a few hundred.
That went to countries outside the EEC?
Yes. Greece was the only destination.