asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if the arrangements for the payment of the variable premium will apply to cattle slaughtered for the home market, for live exports to the EEC and for beef exports to the EEC in a similar manner to that applying in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Premium.
14.
The variable slaughter premium is a temporary national aid granted in the UK under an EEC authorisation which also provides for its payment by the UK on imports of Irish cattle and on beef imported from Ireland for domestic consumption in the UK. No UK variable premium has, in fact, become payable since early March and I already announced that the EEC cattle slaughter premium payable here on all eligible animals will continue to be the fixed headage premium financed from FEOGA. If and when any variable premium should become payable in the UK, the position here will, of course, be reviewed having regard to all relevant considerations.
Did I understand the Minister to say that because of the buoyancy in the UK market the variable premium is not payable but that if there is a drop in market prices and the variable premium is payable it will be payable on domestic slaughterings in Ireland?
What I have said is that if that position arises it will be reviewed and there will be a further announcement.
The Minister will have to go further than that. He will have to say there will be no discrimination against domestic slaughterings here when live exports to the UK will be eligible for the British variable premium.
There is considerable Exchequer money involved and the Minister is not going to make that decision for the Government.
Surely the Minister recalls that our Government have withdrawn the Irish portion of the ordinary slaughter subsidy and that we are now depending totally on the £16 per head EEC slaughtering subsidy?
We are in exactly the same position as Britain.