Vol. 429 No. 4
4 Mr. T. Foxe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if, by reducing the maximum acceptable carcase weight for intervention to 340 kgs, he will give details of the estimated cost of this to the Irish farming community and the possibility of finding markets for the over-weight carcases; the steps, if any, being taken to provide a longer notice period to farmers in the future of any such drastic changes in production patterns.
I share the Deputy's concern about the need for adequate notice of any measure that would impact significantly on market support arrangements. That is one of the reasons that I have opposed the weight limit measure so vigorously since it was put forward without prior consultation last December. The Commission had first intended to apply a limit of 325kg from 1 January 1993 but, following my intervention, it finally opted for a gradual approach and postponed implementation of the first phase involving a limit of 380kgs, to next July. Moreover, the Commission agreed to prepare a report on the beef market, including the operation of the 380kg limit, before the end of the year. In the meantime, I will be intensifying my efforts in the Council of Ministers to secure a more acceptable means of achieving balance in the beef sector.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Common Agricultural Policy reform agreement provided for significant changes to the beef intervention arrangements, with compensation by way of enhanced livestock premium payments. These changes include a gradual reduction in intervention intake from a ceiling of 750,000 tonnes in 1993 to 350,000 tonnes in 1997. I have taken the view that these objectives can be achieved in a orderly fashion without the imposition of a weight limit. However, the EC Commission, with the support of most member states, has decided to follow the weight limitation approach.
A consequence of the introduction of the weight limit will be that heavier carcases which would otherwise have gone to intervention, and which are also our better quality carcases, will now be available for the commercial markets in Europe, where there is demand for the lean meat of the continental type breeds. The need to expand established outlets and to secure new markets will certainly post a huge challenge for the Irish beef industry as intervention intake declines. CBF will play an important role in supporting this marketing effort. The EC will also provide funding for measures to promote and market quality beef and veal.
Because of the number of variables involved, it would be extremely difficult to quantify the impact on the Irish beef sector of a weight of restriction on carcases eligible for intervention.
I wish to raise a point of order. I submitted a question on this same topic and I was told that my question had been ruled out of order on the grounds that I had raised the matter on the Adjournment debate some time ago.
Please, Deputy Dukes. The Deputy may not challenge the Chair on this matter at this time.
I am not challenging you, Sir.
The Deputy is questioning the ruling of the Chair and that is not in order.
No, Sir, I wish to recall the Chair's ruling.
The Deputy may not do so.
I am not challenging the Chair's ruling.
If the Deputy wishes any clarification in respect of my ruling he may take the matter up with my office but he may not raise the subject now.
I am not challenging your ruling, Sir. I am not asking to be allowed to raise the question.
The Deputy is raising the question in the time for Priority Questions.
Sir, I think you would agree that I have a right to be surprised when a question that I tabled was ruled out of order——
Please, Deputy Dukes, I must ask you to desist.
Sir, you ruled my question out of order on grounds that I can understand——
I must ask the Deputy to desist.
——but I find that another Deputy has a question allowed about the very matter that was ruled out of order when I wanted to question it.
I repeat that if the Deputy needs any elaboration or clarification the services of my office are at his disposal. The Deputy's behaviour is disorderly, and he knows it.
What is the difference between Deputy Foxe and myself that I am not allowed to ask a question on the same subject?
Táim ag dul ar aghaidh go dtí Ceist a sé.
Bhí ceist ar an ábhar céanna síos agamsa——
Ná bac leis, a Theachta.
I call Question No. 6. The time for Priority Questions has now expired.
I had a similar question tabled and my question was also disallowed.
This is deplorable conduct.
I am sorry, Sir——
No, I have called Question No. 6.
Mine is understandable puzzlement on the part of a Deputy who finds that one Deputy is allowed to ask a question on this topic yet it is out of order for other Deputies to do so.
If Deputies are dissatisfied, they have a remedy.
