Vol. 521 No. 6
41 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the plans he has to put in place a system in his Department which would allow for the weekly publication of sheepmeat prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17766/00]
Information regarding the weekly prices paid for sheepmeat by three slaughter plants and three livestock marts is collected by my Department to fulfil EU requirements in relation to price reporting. The premises involved are laid down by regulation and the information collected enables a national average weekly price to be calculated. Since the prices paid by the other 33 factories are not available to my Department and these prices are not directly comparable because of the absence of a uniform system of carcase classification, it is not practicable to set up a system to provide for the weekly publication of sheepmeat prices.
