asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of meetings that he has had with the representatives of the pig industry in this country since he was appointed to office; the organisations and people that he met; the commitments he gave them; and if he will make a statement on the pig industry.
Written Answers. - Pig Industry.
260.
Since taking office I have had six meetings with bodies representing the pig industry. These bodies were: the Irish Bacon Curers Society Ltd; the Irish Farmers' Association; the National Co-operative Pig Producers Ltd; the Pigs and Bacon Commission and its successor the Pigs and Bacon Commission Ltd. The main topics discussed were:—
(1) The provision of a State guarantee to cover borrowings by PBC Ltd.
(2) Export refunds and aids for private storage of pigmeat.
(3) Monetary compensatory amounts on pigs and pigmeat products.
(4) Subsidy on liquid skim milk fed to pigs.
(5) EC transport subsidy on intervention wheat.
(6) Monies due to the Department in respect of veterinary examination fees for pigs.
(7) The level of veterinary examination fees for pigs.
(8) Veterinary fees as between pigs slaughtered at licensed export premises and in local abattoirs.
Progress has been made on most of the foregoing and the remainder are being actively pursued.
261.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will abolish the special disease levy on pigs on account of the acute crisis in the pig industry in this country at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
There is no special disease levy on pigs. There are veterinary inspection fees charged on pigs slaughtered at licensed bacon factories and at pork export premises. These fees are charged to cover part of the cost of the service provided by my Department as are the veterinary inspection fees for cattle, sheep and horses slaughtered at licensed export premises. If the fees were not charged the cost of the services would have to be entirely borne by the tax payer.