asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the fact that cattle prices are likely to drop by £21 per head as a result of the imposition of EEC levies on cattle entering Europe, he will consider implementing a scheme to compensate farmers as these levies have the effect that any cattle bought in the last eight months and that are ready for sale will be sold at a loss.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Prices.
3.
As regards the first part of the question the position is that as the Community Market price is still above 103 per cent of the guide price the scarcity regulations are still in operation and levies and full duty have not so far been restored. In any event, I am precluded by the EEC Regulations from introducing a scheme to provide compensation for a fall in cattle prices.
For how long more is it expected that the average price will be greater than the guide price?
The Deputy's guess is as good as mine on this matter. All I can say is that the price was at 104.7 per cent in the present week and that it would have to be below 103 per cent for the regulations to be removed.
Could the Minister not make a case to the EEC Commission that if prices drop substantially in this country he could give some support to the price of cattle?
I do not think that would be listened to.
Is the Minister aware that many farmers are asking why is it that the Department cannot give a forecast as to the price of cattle or why the EEC Ministers of Agriculture in their departments cannot give such a forecast? Is the Minister aware that there is great disillusionment among farmers who do not know from one week to another what the price will be? We all expected that there would be a drop in the month of August. Can the Minister say, or can the people in Europe tell him, what will be the position in, say, September or October? It is vital to know that. Cattle will be rushed on to the market unless there is some guarantee.
No, they cannot tell anybody. All they can say is that there is still a world scarcity of beef and the world price is likely to remain high and nothing extremely serious can happen as long as that is so.
Can we take it that there will be a good price and that these levies may not come in? Otherwise there will be panic selling.
I refuse to give a forecast of this sort because I have seen Ministers for Agriculture giving this type of forecast and, in fact, it only misled people.
It costs a lot more now. The Minister flies around Europe and is in contact with other Ministers and could give a forecast to the farming community.
I have given the Deputy a lot of latitude. Will he please allow Questions to proceed?
Could I ask the Minister if it is not the normal experience every year that from now onwards there are what are known as the grass cattle coming off the grass; that there is an annual autumn glut and that this applies not only in this country but all over Europe and that this should precipitate a drop in the price?
I might say to Deputy Gibbons, who knows it too well, that this happens every year, has been happening every year, and I am sure this year will be no exception. From the point of view of supply, the supply to be sold in the latter half of this year should be bigger than normal because supplies have been withheld from the market.
Question No. 4.
Can we have any advice as to what will happen? This is very serious.
Question No. 4 has been called.