Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 May 1995

Vol. 453 No. 3

Written Answers. - Livestock Subsidies.

Dermot Ahern

Question:

170 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the representations, if any, that he has made to the EU Commission to achieve withdrawal of subsidies on livestock exported from Ireland in view of the fact that these subsidies tend to hinder the development of indigenous meat processing which has been heavily subsidised already by the Irish taxpayers who also have to carry the cost of unemployed meat processing workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9169/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

Responsibility for managing the export refund system in the cattle and beef sector, including the fixing of refund rates, rests with the EU Commission in consultation with the beef management committee. Refund rates are not differentiated according to member state.

I have, on a number of occasions, made known my views in regard to the importance of slaughtering and processing as many cattle as possible within the country in order to provide maximum benefit to the national economy. For this reason, my policy is to ensure that the refund levels for live cattle do not provide any advantage to live exports over exports of beef and, in so far as possible, that the export refund system favours the export of beef. However, I do not consider that it would be appropriate to suggest the complete withdrawal of export refunds on live animals and in any event such a suggestion would not be acceptable to the European Commission or other member states.