Vol. 426 No. 7
1 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has satisfied himself with the current proposal in relation to carcase weight limits for steers into beef intervention; and the steps, if any, he is taking to have them raised in view of the effect this will have on the intake of Irish cattle into intervention in future years.
170 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Foresty if he has any estimates of the effect that the proposed lowering of the carcase weight limit for beef intervention will have on Ireland; and in particular, the likely number of cattle which will not have access to intervention in future.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 170 together.
In December 1992, the EC Commission decided to exclude carcases in excess of 340 kg from intervention with effect from 1 January 1993. Following opposition by Ireland and other member states, the commission decided to postpone the operative date to 1 March 1993. I met the new Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development on 8 January 1993 and impressed upon him the special difficulties such a weight limit would have on the Irish beef sector. On 15 January 1993, the Commission proposed a modification of their previous decision which would phase in the 340 kg weight limit as follows:
— a limit of 380 kg on 1 July 1993
—a limit of 360 kg on 1 January 1994
—a limit of 340 kg on 1 July 1994
Based on intervention in-take in 1992, a limit of 340 kg would exclude from intervention over 60 per cent of Irish steers at present eligible for intervention.
I am maintaining my strenuous opposition to the weight limitation and am seeking to have the measure replaced by one which could achieve the objective of reducing intervention in-take in accordance with the Council's decision of June 1992 in a manner that would be equitable as between member states.
Would the Minister agree that for the next three years, given the breeds of cattle already on farms, the minimum carcase weight for cattle, will be 400 kg as a minimum? Would the Minister give a commitment to this House that at the next Council of Ministers meeting he will make every effort to ensure that a weight limit of 400 kg will be kept in place for the next three years, so that if we are to have a change in breeding patterns it will be given some time to have an effect?
I accept what Deputy Yates said in relation to the weight limit of 400 kg. Since 1988, the breeding programmes of AI stations and breeders generally have gone substantially for continental breeds and a weight limitation of less than 400 kg would impact disproportionately on Ireland. Deputy Yates and the House can have my undertaking that I will seek to protect the best interests of the Irish beef industry.
