asked the Minister for Agriculture the total tonnage and value of butter and meat held in this country under EC intervention at the latest date for which figures are available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Intervention Stocks.
14.
On 31 January 1986 intervention stocks of butter and beef consisted of 80,000 tonnes of butter valued at £187 million and 104,000 tonnes of beef valued at £276 million.
I am taking those questions with the agreement of the House.
Would the Minister indicate why there has been such a substantial increase in intervention stocks since May last year when stocks of beef have gone up from over 80,000 tonnes to 104,000 tonnes and similarly in relation to stocks of butter? What is the cause of the huge increase in the intervention stocks since May last year?
(Limerick West): On a point of order, what is the connection between Question No. 14, and Question No. 23?
We will reach it in a minute. We are taking Question No. 14 now.
It is simply a case of over-production and is due to the reason I outlined in reply to an earlier question. The value of stocks in intervention has increased five times over the past four years. That is a Community problem and we are part of it.
The point of my question was: is there a failure in the marketing system in beef since the amount of intervention has increased so substantially since last May?
I would not like to use the word "failure". Our marketing of beef has improved enormously in recent years but there is still a lot to be done. Seventeen per cent of our beef still goes into intervention — I made that point earlier — but things have improved recently.
May I ask the Minister——
I want to get on to Question No. 15 and I ask the cooperation of the Deputy. I was talking to somebody on my way in and his wish was that we would clear the Order Paper.
I will try to co-operate with the Chair but I have an important question to ask arising out of the Minister's reply. Will any of the stocks of butter and beef in intervention stores in Ireland be taken out in view of schemes being introduced by the Community because of the cost of them to the Irish Exchequer?
I could not be specific on that but I am sure they will be taken out proportionately throughout the Community.
Have none gone yet?
I would need a specific question on that to give the Deputy those details.