Vol. 246 No. 2
asked the Minister for Transport and Power his attitude to the recommendation of the Store Cattle Study Group in Chapter 5 paragraph 58 and others, designed to make future prospects for Irish livestock shippers sufficiently assured to ensure that an adequate number of ships is laid down to cater for the future requirements of the trade.
35.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if in view of their avowed intention to purchase 638,000 Irish store cattle per annum, the British Government have put forward any concrete proposals to ensure adequate transport.
36.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will make a statement on the results of the talks between the B and I Steampacket Company and British Rail in relation to the cross-channel shipment of Irish cattle.
37.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power what provisions are being made to cater for the cross-channel shipment of Irish cattle after 1975.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 to 37 together.
There is no question of inadequacy of shipping facilities for the cross-channel cattle trade at present. Indeed, as far as the B and I Company are concerned they have been offering facilities for the shipment of 6,000 cattle a week, whereas during the whole of 1969 these facilities were availed of by the trade to the extent of only 50,000 head.
With a view to ensuring that regular and sufficient shipping facilities will continue to be available during the ten years period ending 1980, the B and I Company and British Rail have been in negotiation with a view to rationalisation of the cross-channel cattle shipping business. The matter has not yet been brought to a final conclusion and it is not, therefore, appropriate for me to announce any further details at this stage.
Could the Minister state if at the present time any ships are being laid down to cater for the Irish cattle trade in the next ten years? Some of the present ships are reaching the end of their usefulness and no replacements are being made. Could the Minister also state if the B and I are adopting in these negotiations a line which involves making the maximum profit for themselves in fields other than in cattle production and are not driving a hard bargain to ensure that full cattle facilities are made available? Further, could the Minister state if the British are allowing the supply of wagons at take-off points in ports for Irish cattle to be run-down and are strangling off the supply of wagons to the port of Birkenhead in order that that port may be closed down as a receipt point for Irish cattle? In general could the Minister give us somewhat more satisfactory information about the state of negotiations between the B and I and British Railways so that the Irish cattle producers will have some assurance as to future cross-channel shipments of cattle?
As these matters are the subject of negotiations at the moment it would be inappropriate for me to make a definitive pronouncement. However, I can tell the House that negotiations are being conducted by officials of my Department, as well as by myself, with British Railways and the B and I company. Definitive results of such discussions will be announced when appropriate.
Could the Minister give the House an assurance that he will give an instruction to the B and I company to put the general welfare of the Irish cattle trade before considerations of commercial profit for that company?
There is no question about it.
Will the Minister not agree that these negotiations, under the guise of rationalisation, will lead to a position of monopoly in the transport of cattle between Ireland and England? Does the Minister consider this is desirable, because I do not?
The paramount consideration will be the continuation and development of the Irish cattle export industry. It is of paramount importance to ensure that we have guaranteed shipping facilities for the industry in the years ahead.
Will the Minister give an assurance that there will be an adequate supply of wagons at British ports to take the cattle?
That is part of what I have said.
