asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will lift the ban on the movement of cattle from marts so as to release small farmers from the present position whereby the market for their cattle is severely restricted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Movement of Cattle.
5.
The restrictions on the movement of cattle from marts will be relaxed as soon as I am satisfied that this is justified in the light of the foot and mouth disease situation in Britain. As I stated in reply to a question on 1st February, I am keeping under constant review the whole position regarding the restrictions which have been imposed as essential precautions in the interests of farmers.
I can appreciate what the Minister has done in taking these precautions, but is he aware of the difficulties there are for small farmers through not being able to move their store cattle? The Minister may not be aware of the fact that a certain type of people can move cattle in and out of the marts but the small farmer is badly hit. The time has come now to relax these restrictions.
I am fully aware of what the Deputy says and I have this in mind at all stages. It is the small farmer I am concerned about in this matter, but I should like some elaboration, if not here then in private, about those who have the facility for moving cattle in and out of the marts. I am not aware of this and I should like to know about it. Perhaps the Deputy would give me the details, but not here.
(Interruptions.)
There is no point in just making the accusations. I should like to know something about them.
Is it not a fact that anyone can bring cattle into a mart and remove them back home in the name of a particular butcher——
In the name of what?
Anyone who is going to take them back for slaughter?
Yes, if they are going for slaughter or for export, but this is not moving them.
If they move them back from the mart for the home market, not for export? There is no definition laid down of the numbers they can move.
They are only entitled to move them for slaughter or export.
In order to allay the very real concern there is about this absence of a market outlet for store cattle can the Minister say when approximately he expects to be able to clear up the situation? It does not seem to make sense any longer.
No. I cannot give the Deputy an approximate date. I cannot be any more specific than I was ten days ago.