Vol. 412 No. 6
10 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has any proposals to assist store and weanling producers who, this year, are experiencing the worst market conditions ever due to (1) restrictions on traditional markets and (2) the lack of any meaningful EC support for this category of producer.
In so far as the store trade itself is concerned, prices for forward stores are holding at levels close to last year. This is a reflection of the stability resulting from the revision to the arrangements for processors margins for inerventioin beef which I negotiated last August. There is obviously a wide variation in prices depending on quality with the good quality stores doing better.
I am concerned, however, that store heifers and weanlings are making somewhat lower prices than last year. In this context I was pleased to support the recent Commission proposal to increase the suckler cow premium this year by up to 20 ECU or £17.58. I am satisfied that this move will improve confidence and provide important income support for producers.
I do not know whether the Minister lives in the real world. Since 1989 the incomes of store producers have fallen by 55 per cent and heifer prices have been down by 19p per lb. Indeed, one could quote many other figures to show that this category of farmer is entitled to special assistance. I am sure that if their case was put to the EC, assistance would be forthcoming. Is the Minister seeking special assistance for this particularly hard hit category of farmer? The figures prove that of all enterprises in the agriculture industry this is the enterprise that has been hardest hit in recent years. Therefore a special case should be made for these farmers.
I accept that the level of price for store cattle producers is of particular concern and I accept that by the nature of the activities of those engaged in this type of farming they have been particularly affected because they are generally lower income farmers. Does the Deputy want to ask another question?
I was going to ask the Minister——
Does the Deputy want to wait for my reply or does he want to ask a question?
——to address the other part of my question which relates to restrictions on traditional markets. Can the Minister advise the House what he is doing in terms of opening up what were regarded as traditional markets in the Middle East and elsewhere for this type of animal?
Arrangements are in place for a visit from the Iranian Agriculture Minister. That visit is imminent and it will be very significant. Hopefully we will be able to persuade them that our status in relation to BSE is not as bad as is presented in the media and by some of our competitors. That would be a significant break through. Second, I am very hopeful that the Libyan Agriculture Minister and his chief veterinary adviser — we have already met them in Libya — will visit Ireland shortly. As Deputies will appreciate, there are a number of sensitive political issues in relation to Libya, of which Fine Gael have constantly reminded us.
It was the Minister for Foreign Affairs who——
Would the Deputy listen to the reply?
Deputy Connor has asked some questions and he should be good enough to listen to the reply.
The arrangements for the proposed visit were made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. This was meant to be a political signal on our part, subject to the fact that there are political attitudes in the European Community and the United Nations in relation to Libya. If the Deputy is not aware of that he is ignoring reality.
I am fully aware of it but the Minister said that it is our attitude that is causing the problem.
Personally we might have no attitude but we are members——
Deputy Deasy and Deputy Byrne are offering.
Sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, I want the Deputies opposite to come clean. Are they suggesting——
We have asked the question and the Minister has to answer it.
For the information of those of us in Government, are the Fine Gael Party suggesting now that the Irish Government should not abide by any of the decisions taken by the European Community or the United Nations in respect of Libya? If they are suggesting that, we are into a totally new question.
May I advise the Minister?
I am sorry, Deputy, I will call you again.
Our intention is to be helpful, there is no need for us to be at odds on this particular issue. We are anxious to see trade to this country resumed and we were delighted to see that the Libyan Foreign Minister renunciated support for the IRA. Indeed this makes our position, as I am sure it makes the Minister's position, much easier. When can we expect that trade will be resumed? It is now 13 November 1991 and if trade does not recommence by the end of the month, it will not be of much good this season.
I will not, nor will any Irish Minister, be the one to take that decision. It will be either the Libyan Minister for Agriculture or Foreign Minister who will take that decision. However what I can say is that I am totally satisfied that there is no basis for any apprehension about our animal disease status. I am also satisfied that when they visit us shortly this will be confirmed beyond yea or nay. It is well that we recognise that we do not represent the Libyan Government as well as the Irish Government, and the Deputies opposite must recognise that we must await the Libyan response to this political decision.
The Minister's reply indicates that he is totally out of touch with the cattle trade in this country. I was amazed to hear him say that we should go out and look for markets in the EC or outside it. Will he tell us in plain language what hope he is offering to the farmers who can find no market for their small store cattle at this time? Is he aware that no bids are being placed on good quality cattle at the marts?
As the Deputy knows there are cycles in this trade. The Deputy who has some experience of farming is very much aware of that and if he looks at the cycles over the past number of years he will see that, at this time in particular, prices are low. May I suggest also — I think he is aware of this — that we are coming from a period when store cattle prices were unreasonably high and the man involved with the fatteners had a problem. I hope we will begin to see a levelling off. I am fully aware of all the circumstances and I expect that we will see an improvement shortly.
Was it because of a decision at EC level by the Foreign Ministers and Ministers for Agriculture that the Government did not make contact with Libya about contracts?
Let me illustrate the point. I was the first Government Minister for some time from any of the member states to visit Libya this time last year. We managed to get the EC Foreign Ministers to agree that a visit to discuss the health status of our animals did not breach the sanctions they had put in place. We are bound by the precedent and regulations of the EC Foreign Ministers. However, matters are improving because of the statement of the Libyan Foreign Minister and other developments.
