asked the President whether he is prepared to make a statement in regard to the reported agreement with the British Government in relation to trade in coal and cattle between the two countries and the conditions which, as a result, will obtain in regard to this trade in future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coal-Cattle Agreement with Great Britain.
As was announced officially on January 3rd, an arrangement was made with the British Government according to which the quotas for cattle in 1935 would be increased in all categories by 33? per cent. over the quotas for 1934 in return for increased purchases by the Saorstát of coal to an equivalent value. The arrangement does not include any remission of the duties on either side. It would be impossible to foretell exactly what conditions will obtain in this trade in future, but as far as we can see it would be unwise to count upon an increase of our cattle exports beyond the figures for this year or even on the continuance of our exports at this year's level. The efforts which are being made to produce more cattle in Great Britain and the continuing improvement in the methods of transport and preservation of cheap meat produced in the Southern regions of the world, are factors which should warn our farmers against undue production of cattle for the external market.
I do not want to ask any questions that might embarrass an already embarrassed situation, but I should like to know from the President whether or not, in view of the fact that the British Exchequer will gain very considerably by the increased number of cattle going into Britain if the penal charges are to be continued at the same rate, there is an obvious case for further negotiations in this matter.
I think the Deputy is right in that.
Has the President any objection to saying whether negotiations are at present in progress with a view to further trade agreements?
I can only say that representations have been made on the lines suggested in the previous Deputy's question.
In view of the uncertainty of people in the coal industry, can the President say definitely that the 5/- duty on coal coming into the country is going to be continued?
I can say nothing definitely except that it would be altogether unwise for anybody to assume that the situation in that regard was likely to be changed.