asked the Minister for Agriculture the plans, if any, to promote a development programme for beef production as a matter of urgency.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beef Production Programme.
9.
This question seems to suggest there is no development programme for beef, whereas in fact the collective effect of the various measures in operation by my Department constitutes a comprehensive ongoing development programme for the industry.
Among the specific measures taken since I resumed office as Minister, legislation has been enacted to give CBF expanded promotional responsibilities, a selective trading role and increased funds. I have secured the resolution of certain MCA problems which were impeding the meat industry and, most important, the disease eradication schemes have been extended and intensified.
On the beef quality side the beef carcase classification scheme is being introduced on an experimental basis, the more widespread use of continental breeds is being encouraged and the identification of easier-calving continental bulls in AI is helping in this connection.
As regards cattle numbers, these are recovering steadily following the run down which occurred between 1974 and 1976. A publicity scheme to encourage farmers to keep more livestock has been launched and action has been taken on the disease and welfare aspects of the trade in calves. I am continuing to press in the Council of Ministers in Brussels for assistance for specialised beef production, and provision for aiding investment in calf-to-beef systems has been included in the proposals already put forward by the EEC Commission for the development of agriculture in the West of Ireland.
Whatever measures are taken by me and my Department much depends, of course, on the efforts of the farmers themselves in operating their own livestock enterprises.
The Minister said that the question seemed to presume that there was no development programme. He could not even blame a Fianna Fáil backbencher for putting down the question.
Question No. 10.
I want to ask a supplementary question.
It is not relevant. The Deputy is trying to misuse Question Time.
I want to ask what type of development programme we have at present. Is the Minister aware that there has been a catastrophic drop in cattle prices? If there is a development programme, why is the Minister not doing something about it? Is the Minister further aware that farmers today are trying to sell cattle at £38 to £40 per cwt. they purchased at £50 six months ago, that is a drop of £100 or over on a 10 cwt beast? Is the Minister further aware that despite——
The Deputy may ask a reasonable question but not a string of questions some of which are not relevant.
The questions are relevant. I have asked the Minister to explain what development programme we have at present.
The Minister has answered that question.
How did he answer the question, Sir?
That is not the Chair's function.
I believe I am entitled to ask a supplementary question. I have asked the Minister a supplementary question——
Supplementary questions are at the discretion of the Chair, and the Chair——
I am entitled to ask a supplementary question. I believe the question is quite relevant and I will stay on my feet until I get an answer.
The Chair's duty will not be flouted by people using devices——
The Chair had a great hearing last night on this side of the House. Any time anybody opened their mouths, he shot them down. He allowed the Minister to interrupt 40 times and never heard him and allowed Fianna Fáil Deputies to interrupt and did not hear them.
Is the Deputy making charges against the Chair?
I am entitled to an answer to a supplementary question I have asked—where is the development programme if cattle cannot be sold, if cattle prices in the factories have dropped from 75p to 65p in the last month?
Will the Deputy now resume his seat? The Deputy asked 11 different questions before asking that one.
I did not ask 11. The Chair can get the record. I did not ask 11; I asked two.
The Deputy has been on his feet for a long time. The Deputy has made charges against the Chair. The Chair has no desire to be partial in this House, and the Deputy knows that. Somebody being disorderly is no reason for accusing the Chair of being partial to one side or another. The Chair will not accept that from the Deputy, who has——
If all sides of the House get the same treatment, I will accept it and we will accept it.
The Chair's ruling will not be questioned.
Well, it has been.
On the question of cattle prices as against last year, most people in the trade realise that the prices paid by feeders this time last year for cattle to feed over the winter were excessively high. Consequently, the profit those feeders made on the cattle when they came to be sold was very small. We are in the presence of a constant shortfall in cattle numbers. That can be traced back without any doubt at all—and my reply said so—to the crazy cattle policy followed by our predecessors by the slaughter of all the breeding cows in this country in 1975—650,000 cows were slaughtered in the year 1975. Their slaughter and acceptance of breeding cows——
That is a whole lot of bunkum.
——into intervention continued until our Government put an end to it. It never did strike our predecessors that there is a real need in the country to build up our cattle numbers. The way they went about it was by having slaughtered the breeding herd——
What is the use of having a rising cattle population if we cannot sell what cattle the farmers have to sell at present? Is the Minister aware that farmers are taking £12 per cwt. are taking their cattle home from marts for the first time in ten to 15 years because they cannot sell them, and that people in Cork and the South generally are selling one-and-half-year-old cattle today for less than they gave for them as calves? Is the Minister aware of that?
I am aware that in the fall of 1974 and the year 1975 cattle were making £5 per cwt.
Is that not quite irrevelant? The Chair is deaf now when the Minister is talking about 1974. The farmers of Ireland are not interested; they are interested in the year 1979.
At that time it was not possible to sell a calf at all.
What about the time you cut their throats, when it was said the British market was gone and gone forever, and thanks be to God?
Has the Deputy any observations to make on Brian Boru?
Question No. 10.