asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries when the Irish Meat Association was established, the purpose for which it was established, its main functions, and the reason why the grant-in-aid has been increased from £11,600 to £50,000 this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Meat Association.
60.
The Irish Meat Association was established in 1959 by the Irish Fresh Meat Exporters' Society, the Irish Bacon Curers' Society and the Beef Canners' Advisory Association to undertake the establishment and operation of a Meat Research Unit financed by the meat export industry with some assistance from the State. The meat industry's contribution towards the project is collected by my Department by way of increased fees on all cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered at registered meat export premises and bacon factories.
The sum of £11,600 included in my Department's Vote for 1965-66 represented a proposed State grant towards the project for that year. The sum of £50,000 included in the current year's Estimates provides for the payment to the Irish Meat Association of the industry's contribution collected by my Department by way of the increased fees, in addition to a State grant.