asked the Minister for Agriculture the number and type of levies payable on agricultural products under present enactments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Products Levies.
4.
There are three levies, designated as such, under legislation administered by my Department. These are the EEC coresponsibility levy on milk, the bovine disease eradication levy and the Córas Beostoic agus Feola levy.
In addition fees are charged for certain other specific services provided in relation to products by my Department, for example, for inspection of dairy premises, for veterinary inspection at meat and bacon factories, for testing and certification of seeds and for poultry bloodtesting.
What would be the total cost of the levies?
That is a separate question. The Minister need not answer it.
I am sure the figure would fluctuate, depending on the type of animal or bird the Deputy was talking about. Even in the case of bovines we would still have to determine what type of bovine the Deputy is talking about.
Would the Minister not agree that the 2 per cent levy is most unfair and unjust, especially to cattle producers who purchase cattle at around £50 per hundredweight and who are now trying to sell the same cattle at £35 to £40 a hundredweight, losing £15-£16 on each beast——
The Deputy is using the question for the purpose of making a statement. The question asked for the number of levies.
Those people are paying £10 to £14 under the 2 per cent levy. Can this Minister not persuade the Minister for Finance to drop this unfair and unjust levy?
I was asked for the levies exacted by my Department and I have given that information. The levy Deputy L'Estrange is talking about is not administered by the Department of Agriculture.
The Minister is a member of the Cabinet and he agreed——
Deputy L'Estrange——
It is an unfair and unjust levy on producers who have to pay £12-£16 per beast and they are losing £40 to £50——
That question is appropriate to another Department.
Is the Minister aware that farmers who buy cereals for winter feed for their own livestock have to pay the cereals levy?
What levy is the Deputy talking about?
The 2 per cent levy. Is the Minister aware of this? If so, would he take the necessary steps because——
The question on the Order Paper does not permit questions to be asked on all the levies and how they are applied and collected.
I ask the Minister to bear this in mind because it is causing problems.