Vol. 402 No. 6
3 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when O4 category bullocks will be eligible for intervention; if he has any plans to pay a slaughter premium type grant on heifers; when live exports of cattle to Libya and other countries is likely to commence; and the expected price per kg liveweight.
As the Deputy is, no doubt, aware I have requested the European Commission to extend intervention to include O4 category steers and to introduce a slaughter premium for heifers and cows. While these requests have not been acted on, intervention purchasing has increased dramatically in the meantime, in an effort to promote an effective floor under the whole market. Total Community beef purchased into intervention this year will reach some 530,000 tonnes by the end of this week. In Ireland's case, over 190,000 tonnes will have been purchased by the end of this week — 31,000 tonnes in the last three weeks alone.
The total for Ireland is likely to be over 220,000 tonnes for the year as a whole, at a capital cost of about £540 million. I have repeatedly emphasised that it is absolutely essential for farmers to be given cattle prices which reflect the benefits of these intervention purchases. In order to ensure that no barrier — however small — would get in the way of the benefits being passed back to farmers my Department recently made improvements in the implementation of intervention arrangements. This resulted in a very welcome 2 per cent increase in cattle prices.
In so far as live exports to Libya are concerned I recently visited that country for discussions with my counterpart and the veterinary authorities there with a view to reopening the live cattle trade. Arising from my visit some progress has been made on resolving a number of technical aspects relating to BSE and a Libyan delegation will be soon visiting Ireland in this regard. I am hopeful that following further discussions live exports will be able to recommence. As the Deputy is well aware the matter of prices paid by individual exporters is primarily a commercial matter between them and individual farmers.
Am I to take it that the whole idea of the inclusion of the O4 category bullocks into intervention and the slaughter premium for heifers will not now take place? If it is going to take place, surely it should be when a huge number of cattle are on offer.
The indications so far are that the Community and the Commission are not disposed to accede to my request, but the intake into intervention this year for Ireland is nearly three times what it was last year, over 220,000 tonnes as against 78,000 tonnes last year. That alone is testament to the fact that my negotiating strategy has been very successful indeed.
Tell that to the farmers with the heifers. They can hardly sell them, and the Minister knows that.
