asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give details of the measures relating to live cattle for export which have been implemented by his Department in each year from 1977 and in 1981.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Live Cattle Exports.
9.
My Department participate in the implementation of a whole range of control measures in relation to the export of live cattle. In the years mentioned, they have included animal health and disease status measures, animal welfare measures and procedures and arrangements of various kinds connected with the operation of the common agricultural policy. The latter have related in particular to the payment of refunds on exports to non-Community countries and, for a time, the collection or payment of monetary compensatory amounts.
Would the Minister state what is his Department's policy in regard to payments which he says come from EEC funds for live exports? Are the Department satisfied that an equal subsidy is available for the exports of processed meat in that area? I know some improvement has been effected but I want the Minister to state: is the export of processed meat done on an equal basis with that of live cattle?
As the Deputy will appreciate, it is a very complex system. My Department would be concerned at all times to ensure that export refunds operate on an equitable basis between carcase beef, live cattle and boneless beef. There are some indications that frozen boneless beef may not be doing as well out of that system as we would like it to do and we have submitted proposals to the Commission with a view to improving the situation. But we act as an agent for the Community in this and it is not within the ambit of Government control to make certain all the time that the regulations operate one hundred per cent satisfactorily. However, it is our intention to do all we can in that regard.
Has sufficient play been made of this by our negotiators? I want to make it clear that I am not objecting to live exports, but what are we doing to ensure that the export of processed meat will be entitled to the same refund for exports outside of the EEC, an advantage which we have enjoyed over the last few years? The export of live cattle has been advantaged to the detriment of our workers in the meat processing industry. Is it Government policy to stop that trend?
The position is not as clear-cut as the Deputy would indicate between the various kinds of sales in relation to beef, live cattle and boneless beef. We are concerned to see that the system operates as equitably as possible.
Surely there must be equity?
Surely the Minister accepts that there is no equity in this situation which favours the export of cattle on the hoof? What steps do the Government propose to take to try to bring equity into the export of cattle?
We have made a number of submissions to the Commission in relation to these matters and we are concerned to see that the system operates more favourably as far as boneless beef is concerned. As already indicated the Department act as an agent for the Community in this and we are limited in what we can change.
Surely submissions are of little value?
This is turning into a debate.
(Interruptions.)
May I take it that the Minister will take definite action in this situation with the EEC? Submissions have been made for the past three years but no definite action has been taken to improve the situation.
I understand from the general tenor of the questions that the reason for the fall in employment in the processing meat sector is primarily because of live exports. I do not accept that.
That is not what I said.
A final supplementary from Deputy Bermingham.
Is the Minister saying that he is happy with the position where the export of processed meat is not on a par with the export of live cattle? If the Minister is not satisfied it is not good enough for him to come in here and say that he is acting as an agent for the EEC.
We have been taking all necessary steps with regard to this problem which is far more complex than the Deputy seems to think.
(Interruptions.)