asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the position concerning procedure for the purchase of beef cattle by the factories at present; and, particularly, the manner in which price regulations with respect to intervention operate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beef Cattle Sales to Factories.
12.
Under the EEC regulations the Irish intervention agency, which is my Department, purchase at published prices beef from prescribed categories of cattle offered to intervention by the factories. No procedure is prescribed for the purchase of beef cattle by the factories, whether the beef therefrom is intended to be offered to intervention or to be sold on the commercial market.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell the House whether in all cases of beef cattle being sold to factories the intervention price or better is paid to farmers?
The intervention price or better is paid where the cattle comply with the standards laid down by the Commission to qualify for intervention prices. I am sure the Deputy is aware of that information already without asking me——
In all cases? I want to get this on the record.
——by way of supplementary question.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary tell the House whether in all cases of beef cattle sold to factories the intervention price or better is paid to farmers?
The intervention price is paid where the cattle comply with the standards laid down by the Commission to qualify for the intervention price. I am sure the Deputy is aware of that information already without asking me by way of a supplementary question.
Question No. 13.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary telling the House that in all cases of cattle sent for slaughter the intervention price is paid?
Not where the cattle are not up to the required standards of the EEC regulations.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary saying that the intervention price is paid for all suitable cattle?
Yes.
Is it paid if they measure up to EEC standards?
We cannot have an argument on this matter. Question No. 13.
Yes. The Deputy is aware that many cattle sold are not up to EEC standards.
I have called the next question.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary telling us——
Deputy Gibbons, please allow us to make some progress.
I am not clear on the reply I have got. I want to know if suitable beef cattle are sent to factories do they all make the intervention price or better?
That question has been asked a few times. We must pass on to the next question.
My information is that all such cattle make the intervention price or better. Factories say that many animals purchased from farmers are not of intervention standards.
(Interruptions.)
I have called the next question.
I would like to raise this matter on the Adjournment.