asked the Minister for Agriculture whether adequate supplies of fat cattle are available in Saorstát Eireann to fill the quota for fat cattle allotted to us by Great Britain.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supplies of Fat Cattle.
Dr. Ryan
It is expected that exports of fat cattle to the United Kingdom will during 1937 show an increase on the figures for 1936, but in view of the increase in the export of store cattle, it is estimated that the number of fat cattle exported during the year 1937, will fall slightly below the quota allotted by the British Government.
Is it now the case that we have not got a sufficient number of fat cattle to supply the restricted demand of the British market much less supply our own destitute people with the cheap beef they had been getting for the last couple of years?
Dr. Ryan
That is a very big question.
Does the Minister admit that, after administering his Department for five years, the principal monument to his administration is that we have not enough beef to send to the British market, although there is a quota? That is the market we thanked God had been done away with.
Dr. Ryan
We are producing as many fat cattle as ever we did.
But you have not got as many as will supply the British market which, you told the people, was failing. Although producing as many cattle as ever we did, we cannot supply the restricted market voluntarily made available by the British Government.
Will the Minister withdraw the bounty on calf-skins so as to encourage the people to keep the calves?
Dr. Ryan
That would not produce fat cattle.