asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if there is any prohibition on the export of young cattle to the EEC or to any other European country; and, if so, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Exports.
43.
The export of cattle to destinations other than Britain, the Isle of Man or Northern Ireland is subject to licensing control. It is clearly undesirable to permit the unrestricted export of calves or young cattle when we are endeavouring to increase our cattle numbers and when we have adequate supplies of fodder available. I am, however, prepared to consider on their merits any specific applications which may be made for export licences.
Can the Minister state what will be the position under the EEC Constitution in relation to the export of live cattle?
The general position is that it is for our farmers to extract the maximum profit from the animals. It seems to me that the best way of doing this is to get a maximum from our most plentiful fodder crop, which is grass. But if a good case can be made for the export of young animals, giving a better profit by some other way, that other way would be examined.
Could the Minister indicate what sort of case might be made because I fail to see any case that could be made for the export of calves.
As I said in my original reply, what is at stake here is the question of maximum profit to the owner of the animals and what is important is the net profit to him and to the country as a result of the sale of these animals. If by some chance the sale of young cattle would result in a better return we would then consider that.
It will not.
I do not think so.
Everyone in the House will be at one with him as to the undesirability of a flourishing veal-calf trade out of Ireland—there is no disagreement about that. The question that arises is as regards the opinion inside the Minister's Department as to whether it would be possible in EEC circumstances under a CAP to prevent such a trade and to prevent the bidding up of the price of veal-calves so that fatteners in Ireland will be enabled to purchase them or to purchase them economically.
This is the type of situation we are talking about—you still get back to the net point, which is the profitability to the producer——
To which producer?
The farmer—the producer of the animal. If it is more profitable for some reason or other to sell a number of young animals for the veal trade, it is obviously well worth considering, but generally speaking, since our major resource is grass and the conversion of that grass into beef mainly, that is the thing to do with it.
Will the Minister be able to stop it under a CAP?
I think that the economic conditions that will emerge within the EEC will themselves stop it.
The Minister cannot prevent it now.
Would the Minister not agree that it is very important to lay down a conservation policy for livestock so as to ensure continuity of the breeding stock, especially on the heifer side and also in relation to the beef industry?
I have already said that it is quite important, extremely important, for us to retain every suitable breeding animal in order to increase our cattle numbers but it must be obvious to everybody that the retention of breeding stock is vital. Is that the point Deputy Collins is making?
Do you intend to lay down a conservation policy?
I do not think it will be necessary.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.