asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether any measures to alleviate the present critical situation of the Irish cattle trade or the Irish pigmeat trade were agreed upon at the recent conference of Agriculture Ministers in Bavaria; and if he will make a statement on the outcome, if any, of this conference.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers (Resumed). - Cattle and Pigmeat Trades.
51.
The visit of Community Agricultural Ministers to Bavaria last week was made at the invitation of the German Minister who is the current chairman of the Council. The Ministers had private exchanges of views on Community Agricultural problems but as the meeting was not a formal meeting of the Council, no decisions were taken. Certain measures to strengthen the Community market for cattle and pigs have already been taken in recent weeks and the situation is being kept under continuing review.
Could the Minister tell us what arrangements have been made to help the cattle and pigmeat producers?
At the meeting there was no discussion of the beef situation at all. The Italian problem was under discussion. The whole question of the effects of the measures recently taken will be coming up for discussion at the next meeting.