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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 6

Written Answers. - EU Export Refunds.

Peadar Clohessy

Question:

162 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, being taken to have the EU export refunds fully restored. [3472/96]

I assume the Deputy is referring to export refunds on cattle and beef.

Last autumn the EU Commission cut export refunds on a number of occasions in order to bring about a more orderly flow of export licence applications in this the first year of the GATT Agreement. Since then I have done everything possible to get refunds back to levels which would provide reasonable returns to beef producers, and in particular winter fatteners.

I have impressed on the EU Commission, and my colleagues at the Council of Ministers, the urgent need for measures to be put in place which would address the problems now being encountered in this sector. I am pleased that the Commission has responded to this pressure by increasing refund by 5 per cent on live cattle and male carcase beef and 7.5 per cent for boneless beef at the meeting of the beef management committee on 2 February.
While this increase, following on a 14 per cent increase last December, is welcome I will continue to press for a restoration of the refunds to levels which would make Irish beef and cattle competitive on international markets and at the same time would provide producers with a reasonable return on their investment and effort.
I wish to add also that the payment of the deseasonalisation slaughter premium, which is worth up to £60 per steer slaughtered this spring, is an important factor in maintaining returns to winter fatteners. This, in conjunction with premia payments which have increased by £250 million since the CAP reform agreement in 1992, should help to strengthen the income situation of beef producers in general. I do not need any convincing on the importance of this issue and I will continue with my efforts to seek further export refund increases and use every other means at my disposal to ensure that cattle prices can be maintained at adequate levels.
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