asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries why there is to be an unfavourable disparity between the payments made to southern Irish beef producers, through the Irish meat factories, under the beef export guarantee scheme and the equivalent payments being made to competing producers in Northern Ireland; and if it is the Government's policy to perpetuate this disparity.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beef Export Scheme.
29.
The carcase beef export support system here has been determined by the Government according to our own circumstances and its success has been shown by the very substantial expansion of the beef export trade. A different system operates in Northern Ireland mainly as part of the United Kingdom fatstock guarantee scheme.
Is it not the case that the Irish Beef Export Guarantee Scheme is linked very closely with the British scheme and that, in fact, the British Exchequer makes a contribution towards the Irish scheme and that this is an indication of that close link? Since the Irish beef producers are in direct competition with the factories and producers across the Border, would the Minister not consider devoting the £0.6 million, which was estimated would be spent on the increases but which the Minister for Finance announced yesterday will not be spent, towards restoring parity to some extent? I would point out to the Minister that initially parity did exist——
The Deputy may not point out. He should allow questions to proceed but he has made a speech.
Could the Minister answer?
The Deputy is as much aware as I of the phenomenal growth in the carcase beef industry in recent years. This is indicative of the thriving state of the industry. He must be aware also that we have a live store cattle trade as well and that that, too, fortunately, is prospering. The Deputy cannot infer that the carcase beef trade is in any way affected adversely. The facts are so eloquently put that they hardly require explanation to anybody except to Deputy Bruton.