asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will abolish the £100 per beast limit for compensation for beasts condemned under the brucellosis eradication scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Brucellosis Eradication Scheme.
40.
This matter is at present under consideration.
Does the Minister not agree that the abolition of this limit would not cost all that much money? Does he not agree it is particularly important at present, considering the price of cattle, that valuable cattle can be destroyed?
I agree there is a basis for examination of this limit but I must say I am of the opinion that any considerable movement upwards could have a detrimental effect on the scheme because it would mean a general rise in the price the farmers would commonly expect to get. This, in the overall, would have a detrimental effect on the carrying out of the scheme and on its cost.
Could we have clarification?
I feel that if there was any considerable concession in the matter of the ceiling prices for brucellosis reactors it would lead to a general rise for all reactors.
I do not follow.