asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether, having regard to the sharp drop in cattle numbers and the absence of serious pressure on the intervention system in so far as beef is concerned, he will seek the restoration of 100 per cent access to intervention sales for steer-beef.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Intervention Beef.
1.
My main purpose in limiting intervention purchases about a year ago was to encourage the factories to make more use of commercial outlets. Since the limitation was imposed intervention intake has in fact been consistently below the maximum level permitted. This is an indication that the course 1 set was the correct one and is in itself an argument against any raising of the limit. Indeed, the reduction in slaughterings this year makes it even more desirable that there should be less recourse to intervention and that we should continue to supply our commercial market outlet.