asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries why cattle prices are now so low; the effect on prices of the importation of cattle and beef from countries outside the EEC; and if he will ensure that in future years no meat or animals will be imported from countries outside the EEC while supplies are available within the Community.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Prices.
3.
I am satisfied that the importation of cattle and beef from countries outside the EEC had an adverse effect on Community prices in recent months. At recent meetings of the Council of Ministers I pressed strongly for additional measures to strengthen the beef market which included the prohibition of imports of beef from third countries. This proposal was not acceptable to the council which, however, adopted measures such as export restitutions, extention of the intervention system and aids to private storage to strengthen the market. I will continue to press for the maximum safeguards for the community beef market.
Did the Minister not realise that when the EEC made trade agreements with Brazil, Uruguay and Yugoslavia for the importation of beef it would have detrimental effect on us?
The agreements, as I explained yesterday, were for calves mainly for feeding in the Italian feed lots.
But not from Yugoslavia?
Yes.
Did Italy not import from Yugoslavia sizeable numbers of more mature animals than calves?
They would all be under six cwt.
I do not like rubbing salt into the wound but it seems terrible to be shown on television Irish cattle being fed——
The Deputy must ask a supplementary question.
I am asking it. Does the Minister not take a serious view of the fact that we tariffed our cattle while they were making a trade agreement to allow them in from countries outside the EEC? That is something I cannot understand. Why did it happen?
I am sorry I did not hear the question.
The Minister said that a trade agreement was signed to allow cattle—more than calves—into Italy. We saw them on television in feed lots in Italy, some Irish cattle. During last summer we agreed to a tariff on our calves. I cannot understand this. It seems to be a terrible contradiction. That is the question I am asking. I want an explanation of it.
I have already explained this in the House twice or three times.
4.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the fact that since January, 1974, factories have been removing kidney fat from cattle carcases before weighing with a consequent drop in the price of cattle to the producer of about 1p per pound, he has any proposals to compensate producers for this loss.
I understand that, when meat factory dressing procedures for cattle were recently modified by removal of the kidneys, kidney fat and channel fat, the deadweight price paid by factories to producers was increased by about 1p per lb.
If that is the case why are people who are selling to the factories losing money at present? It is very hard to calculate what percentage you are going to kill out now. Before this you would have a fair basis to work on.
Nobody seemed to contradict the factories when they said that this would mean 1p per lb. in the difference and that they were increasing their prices by that amount.
In actual fact in the case of some cattle, particularly Herefords, it is a bigger fall than 1p per lb.
The Deputy is making a statement. Question No. 5.