asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will seek a calf premium from FEOGA similar to that in operation in Italy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Calf Premium.
10.
The premium arrangements to operate in the 1976-77 marketing year were the subject of considerable discussion during last week's meeting of the Council of Ministers. In the discussion I opposed the provision of a premium for Italian home-bred calves unless a similar premium were applied to this country. The final settlement, however, had to be a compromise and in this the Italian calf premium was continued for 1976-77 but at only half the rate applicable during the past year. Given the satisfactory market outlook for beef and having regard to the monetary changes also decided upon by the Council, I see no reason why competitive prices cannot be paid for calves by Irish farmers engaged in the rearing and finishing of cattle.
I agree with the Minister at the moment, but does he not admit that if a subsidy of this type were enforced we would not have 500 people being laid off by a factory because of a shortage of cattle? People had to sell pregnant cows in 1974 because of the price of calves and that is the reason for the scarcity today. Would the Minister agree?
No, I would not.
But it was pointed out by us——
Order. The Deputy asked a question and he should listen to the reply.
The Chair fully realises the seriousness of the position.
The situation is being misrepresented. We will have as many cattle to go through the processing factories this year as we had in 1974. This is a seasonal shortage of cattle that has occurred year in and year out. There is supposed to be something abnormal about it this year. Last year we had abnormal slaughterings. Never in our history did we reach the point reached last year. The reason for this was because culled cows were being slaughtered at an abnormal rate.
I agree up to a point that everything may be all right at the moment. Does the Minister not see that unless something is done for the calf man we may once again be faced with the 1974 situation and nobody wants that.
All I can say is that Deputy Callanan cannot shift his feet as he is doing at the moment and hope to get away with it. When I tried to restrict the export of calves heretofore, Deputy Callanan was on the other side of the fence saying that this was disgraceful. Now he is trying to prevent the export of cattle.
Arising out of the Minister's reply——
There are other Deputies seeking to ask supplementary questions.
If the Minister makes a statement, I am entitled to ask a question. At that time we wanted that. I am saying now that there may come a time when a subsidy will be needed and we are entitled——
We must proceed by way of supplementary questions. Deputy Davern.
I do not shift my feet. I stick to my point.
The Minister said that this was a seasonal problem. How many redundancies were there in 1974?
That is a separate matter. This question deals with a calf premium.
I am talking about 140 jobs in my constitutency which are gone. I am asking the Minister to explain them away as a seasonal problem for this time of year.
This question deals with calf premiums.
If the Deputy puts down a question I will give him the answer. I cannot be expected to know the exact——
The Minister said this was a seasonal problem. If it is, why did they not have redundancies in 1974 or in 1975?
I cannot say what the redundancies were at any particular time.
Deputy Fitzgerald with a brief supplementary and then Deputy Fahey.
In regard to my special notice question yesterday concerning 500 redundancies in a particular meat processing factory, is the Minister aware that the explanation given was that the major cause of the problem was the drop in the cattle population? Who is right? Is he right when he says it is a seasonal drop or was the Minister for Labour right yesterday?
That is a long question Deputy.
Further, is the Minister not aware that in addition to those 500 redundancies there will be more redundancies in the other meat processing plants? This will mean a sizeable reduction in the numbers employed in meat factories.
There were twice as many cattle processed last year than were ever processed when Fianna Fáil were in Government. There will be more this year——
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Fahey.
May I ask the Minister a brief question?
Let the Minister answer the Deputy's question.
The Chair has no control over such matters.
Would the Minister have any idea of the numbers employed in the meat processing industry in 1974 in relation to the number being laid off now? Would he not agree that never in the history of that industry have the lay-offs been as massive as they are at the moment and will be in the coming months?
The Deputy is emphasising the subject matter of another question.
(Interruptions.)
Absolute nonsense.
What is nonsense about there being——
Order, please.
Is the Minister aware that because there is a calf premium available in Italy, and there is no such premium here, this is causing an enormous number of dropped calves to be exported? Is he further aware that as a result of such large numbers being exported there will be no future for the meat processing industry because we will not have the stock in years to come? That is a very serious situation and the Minister should take notice of it.
Deputy Fahey should fight this out with Deputy Callanan because there are now two policies on that side of the House.
(Interruptions.)
There is no question of paying an Italian subsidy on Irish born calves.
Have the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries a long-term or a medium-term plan for the meat processing industry? In other words, is it a question of seven years plenty, seven years famine? Is there a ten-year, or a five-year plan to make sure that there will be an adequate supply for the meat processing industry?
There will be an adequate supply of cattle——
By a fluke or by a plan?
By plan as far as it is possible to induce and encourage Irish farmers to produce cattle. The prices were never as high as they are now.
The employment level is very low.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 11.
I am being complimented by Cavan farmers every time I go there.
(Interruptions.)