asked the Minister for Agriculture why there has only been an increase in the Estimates provision for CBF below the average for the Vote as a whole in view of the promise in the White Paper that it would be given a wider role during 1979.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - CBF Estimates Provision.
7.
The 1979 provision for CBF is in fact more favourable than that for the Agriculture Vote as a whole. In any event, it has been made clear in the White Paper on National Development that a contribution will be sought from the industry to finance the wider role envisaged for CBF.
Would the Minister not agree——
Does the Deputy wish to ask a supplementary question?
Yes.
Then, with the permission of the Chair.
With the permission of the Chair, would the Minister agree that the increase under subhead I for CBF was only 5.5 per cent?
It is my intention to change the basis of operation of CBF for its own benefit and the benefit of the cattle industry generally. Some of these changes will include a voluntary contribution from the industry to the funding of the CBF and the allocation to CBF of certain marketing powers and closer co-ordination of marketing efforts in general within CBF itself and between CBF and other food marketing organisations. We have an informal committee in the Department of Agriculture which links up the other marketing organisations with CBF. I hope that the coherence between the marketing organisations I have named will become greater as time progresses.
May I ask through the Chair when the necessary legislation to extend CBF will be introduced?
As quickly as possible.
Before Easter?
There are a number of important Bills concerned with agriculture—the AnCOT Bill, Committee Stage: I hope to introduce a land Bill, and there are several other measures—and the Deputy is as familiar as I am with the scarcity of Dáil time when there is work to be done.
The Bill has not been published?
No.