asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the cost to date of having Irish beef in intervention.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Intervention Beef.
77.
Total freezing, storage and handling costs amount to approximately £1.5 million. The rates of intervention allowances payable from FEOGA have not yet been finalised.
In view of the fact that the intervention system is operated by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries does the Minister accept as an obligation on him responsibility for the benefits of intervention being passed on to the consumer?
That is accepted.
It is not happening.
In view of his acceptance of that obligation, what steps is the Minister taking to discharge it by seeing that the benefit does go to producers?
All the steps that are adequate and necessary. I can answer that in a general way. So far as this question is concerned I hope that when the final report is to hand the Irish Exchequer will not be at any loss.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the benefits of cattle going into intervention are not going to the farmers?
This is getting away from the question being asked.
I am not getting away from the question asked.
The question asked was the cost to date of having Irish beef in intervention. Question No. 78.
In answering a previous question the Parliamentary Secretary accepted that it was the Department's responsibility to ensure that the benefits went to the farmers.
(Interruptions.)
78.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the total amount of Irish beef from intervention given to hospitals, institutions and social welfare classes.
79.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries why the EEC has not made beef available to social welfare groups on the same basis as butter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together. The question of implementing the EEC regulations providing for the sale of beef at reduced prices to certain social welfare beneficiaries is under consideration. No intervention beef has been sold to hospitals or institutions.
May I ask a supplementary question?
The Chair seems to have no function whatever in the House at the moment and in between replies Deputies are making comments which are disparaging on other Deputies in the House.
And outside the House.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries has accepted responsibility for seeing——
He has answered that question.
I am not going back on questions already dealt with. That procedure was never known here. If any Deputy wants better information or wants this information repeated, he can put down another question.
(Interruptions.)
80.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the amount of intervention beef now being stored in ships in Irish territorial waters; the number of ships involved; the quantity of beef in each ship; and the total cost per week per ship to service the operation.
Approximately 3,900 tons is now stored on one ship and a second ship of similar capacity is being loaded. For commercial reasons it would not be in accordance with general practice to disclose shipping costs. EEC allowances will, of course, be received from FEOGA for freezing, handling and storage of this intervention beef.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say if the EEC allowances to which he referred will cover 100 per cent of the cost or what proportion of it will they cover?
That has not been determined. It is under negotiation.
Is there any indication of the likelihood——
The indications are bright—bright, bright.
For 100 per cent coverage?
Bright, bright. That is to-day's information that I can give you.
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary is he saying that the prospects are bright——
The Parliamentary Secretary is saying that the prospects are bright.
Will he listen to the question?
The prospects are bright.
I am trying to ask the Parliamentary Secretary a question and he keeps answering it before I ask it.
He should get out of the House. He is a disgrace.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary saying that the prospects of 100 per cent recoupment of this cost are bright?
The question asked was about the expenses of the Exchequer and it had reference to the previous question also. I am saying that the prospects are bright that the Exchequer will not have to bear expense. That is a much better answer than Deputy Colley or Deputy Gibbons would give if they were over here answering questions. I have years of experience of the type of replies they gave. I am trying to transmit as much information as possible to the Deputies who are serious in trying to get information.
(Interruptions.)
I am simply looking for factual information.
That is what is being given. That is the only information contained in these replies.
The Parliamentary Secretary should stay with the fish.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 81.