asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement on the advantages derived by Irish farmers from the reduction in the CAP representative rate of the £ in October, 1974, in gaining access to continental markets.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - CAP Pound Rate.
26.
The adoption of a new representative rate for the Irish £ in October last greatly reduced the monetary compensatory amount charges against our agricultural exports to third country and continental EEC markets. As the Deputy is aware, a further change in the representative rate for the Irish £ agreed in February also significantly reduced the MCA charges on our agricultural exports.
Does the Minister not agree that the current MCA for all countries, excluding the United Kingdom, is £1.66 per live hundredweight of beef? Does the Minister seriously contend, therefore, that it is possible to export against that as well as the other taxes that have to be paid?
It is a significant thing that beef prices are up substantially this week. If the Deputy was listening to the announcement yesterday about markets, he will have learned that they are up significantly although we have reduced the amount going into intervention.
The Irish reference price is six points less than any other country in the Nine.
The Deputy is imparting information rather than seeking it.
We have the cheapest beef of the Nine.
And, I hope, the best.
Look at what is happening to it.