I am in a difficulty here, a Cheann Comhairle and I would welcome your advice. This question is of so comprehensive a character that it involves an answer running to three and a half pages. Would you and the House approve of the suggestion that the answer be printed in the Official Report?
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Exports.
The following question appeared on the Order Paper:—
To ask the Minister for Agriculture if he is in a position to make a statement concerning the fall in (a) the value, and (b) the volume of cattle and other agricultural exports, and whether an increase in such exports may be expected this year.— (Seán MacBride.)
Mr. Lemass
Has the question been asked?
That procedure has not been adopted previously.
I am quite prepared to read the reply. I would rather enjoy reading it, particularly the prospect of answering the supplementaries.
Mr. Lemass
I do not want the Minister to read the reply. I want the question asked, not answered.
Will anybody ask the question on behalf of Deputy MacBride?
I shall ask the question.
I notice the Leader of the Fianna Fáil Party is now absent unless, of course, he has abdicated in favour of Deputy Lemass.
On behalf of Deputy MacBride, I think the Minister should read the statement.
It can be read in the Official Report.
Following is the reply:—
As regards cattle the total number and value of exports, alive and as carcase beef, can be said to have fallen in the latter part of 1955 only by comparison with the exceptionally high exports in the latter part of 1954 and the early months of 1955. Exports of canned beef were higher both in volume and value in 1955 than in 1954. The total number of cattle in the country on the 1st June, 1955, was the second highest ever recorded and was only slightly less than the record figure of 1954. The reduction in the number of cattle in the older age groups resulting from the exceptionally heavy exports in 1954-55 was largely offset by increases in the number of cattle between one and two years old and under one year old, both of which figures on the 1st June, 1955, were the highest ever recorded for these age groups. This increase in the numbers of young cattle is most encouraging as regards future exports.
As regards sheep, the number in the country has been steadily increasing in recent years and the number on the 1st June, 1955, was the highest recorded for over 20 years past.
The increase in cattle and sheep production in recent years has, of course, been a direct consequence of the link established under the 1948 Trade Agreement with Britain between the prices for our cattle and sheep and the guaranteed prices for British home-bred cattle and sheep. As announced by me early in December, very satisfactory arrangements, to apply as from the 28th March, 1956, were then made with the British authorities in regard to price links between our store cattle, sheep and lambs fattened in Britain and British home-bred fat stock, no changes being visualised in those arrangements for a period of at least three years unless there should be a substantial alteration in conditions such as a fundamental change in the British system of their fat stock guarantees.
Because of the high level of cattle and sheep numbers recorded in June last, and as exports in the latter part of 1955 were not as heavy as in the previous year, it would seem reasonable to expect some increases in the volume of cattle and sheep exports during the coming year. While the prices for our store cattle and store sheep fattened in Britain will of course be affected by prevailing market conditions, it is important to remember that they will have the sure foundation of the British guarantees to which I have referred.
As regards pig meat, there has also been a link under the Pigs and Bacon Agreement of 1951 with Britain between the prices for our exports and the guaranteed prices for British home-produced pigs. Reductions in the latter prices from 1954 onwards have been reflected in the prices of our exports of pork and bacon which have consequently fallen in volume and value. The prices paid for these exports under the agreement are, of course, still substantially higher than the prices paid for Britain's imports from other countries. With a view to encouraging pig production as much as possible, I recently announced that I propose, when the agreement terminates on the 30th April, 1956, to provide an assured export price for Grade A bacon. Since pig production is very sensitive to market prices at home (where the bulk of the production is consumed) as well as export prices I cannot very well forecast at this stage what exports may be during the coming year, but I would hope that they may not be less than during the past year.
As to dairy produce, the main reduction was in chocolate crumb exports, the value of which fell by 15 per cent. and the volume by under 12 per cent. This is accounted for not only by increased domestic production in Britain but also by a fall in the consumer demand on that market for finished chocolate due to the unusually warm summer in 1955. The value of butter exports fell by over £700,000 but in any comparison of exports for the two years account must be taken of the fact that our consumption of butter was 33,000 cwt. higher in 1955 than in 1954. That quantity would have realised about £650,000 on the export market. The variations in the total value of exports of other items of dairy produce were relatively insignificant in 1955 as compared with 1954, the value of exports of cheese and infant foods being down while exports of cream, condensed and dried milk were up.
As to the prospects for 1956, there is every indication that there will be an increase in milk production with consequently a rising trend in the level of exports of dairy products. The return which we may receive on such exports will, of course, depend on the competition which our produce will meet on the export market.
The egg export position is unfortunately not encouraging. The bulk of our surplus of output is exported to Britain but owing to the producer subsidy system in operation there which encourages high production, especially at the time of year when our export surplus is greatest, exports of eggs from here have fallen both in volume and value. An important improvement could be effected if our production could be increased in the second half of the year when the British market can absorb more exported eggs at reasonably good prices. We are, of course, losing no opportunity in attempting to develop other outlets for eggs in addition to the British market.
The value of dead poultry exported in 1955 was slightly above that of 1954. This was due mainly to an increase of approximately 9 per cent. in the numbers of turkeys exported and to an increase in the unit value figure. There was also an increase of nearly 50 per cent. in the numbers of chickens exported in 1955. It is not unreasonable to expect a further improvement in these exports in 1956.
I feel no pessimism as to the future of our agricultural exports, provided we make ever increasing use of the best technical means which are now at the disposal of every farmer.