Vol. 307 No. 5
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state, in the event of an incentive being given by his Department to build up the stocks of breeding ewes, the breeds of sheep his Department would recommend as the best, in order to produce the best quality product for the French market.
32.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the proposals his Department has to help, by incentive, Irish sheep farmers, particularly those in County Galway, to increase their herds of breeding sheep and thereby enable them to gain the most from the now lucrative lamb markets in France, particularly in Paris.
: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose taking Questions Nos. 31 and 32 together. I believe that we are reasonably well situated as regards suitable breeds for the French market and I look forward to receiving the advice of the Sheep Breeding Advisory Committee in this matter. I am satisfied that the present scheme of headage payments on hogget ewes and mountain lambs operated by my Department, when coupled with the enhanced market prices for sheep of good quality and finish, are a sufficient incentive to Irish sheep farmers to increase their breeding stocks.
