asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the steps he has taken, or intends to take, to ensure that headage payments applicable in the UK will not place exporters to the Continent at a disadvantage vis-á-vis the UK.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Headage Payments.
8.
As part of the final compromise on prices the Council of Ministers authorised the extension of the UK variable premium for the 1976-77 year. A lower maximum level was, however, prescribed and the operation of the premium was made subject to more detailed control by the Commission than applied for the past year. In addition, the Commission have undertaken to pay close attention to the pattern of trade between the various regions of the Community and will take or propose appropriate measures if the granting of a premium leads to an abnormal pattern of trade or disturbances of the market.
Can we take it the answer is that no such disadvantage will arise?
No. Some disadvantage always existed. It existed last year but I am saying that the disadvantage is much less this year than it was even last year.
Is there anything the Minister can do to reduce the disadvantage?
Nothing short of a national subsidy, which I do not believe we would be allowed to pay even if we were anxious to do so. I do not think it would be the right thing for us to contemplate. The British paid the full deficiency on imports in the UK.
Since the Minister's attitude clearly is that any question of a subsidy would be out of the question, would he endeavour to ensure by other means that the disadvantage which the trade has suffered would be offset by steps in other directions? Would he ensure that this will not continue?
Only 5 per cent of our live cattle went to Europe; 95 per cent went to Britain, whom we got to pay us from their Exchequer.
It is to this very point that we have total objection. Is the Minister aware that 95 per cent of our cattle, as he said himself, are going through Britain to the Continent?
That is not what I said.
They have to because of the disadvantage the Minister knows exists and which he is doing very little to eliminate.
Is not the proof of the disadvantage that our cattle are going through Britain and that they are replacing British cattle being sent to the Continent?
At higher prices.
Are Deputies opposite objecting to the fact that we get the British Exchequer to pay the deficit on every beast that goes to Britain?