James Leonard
Ceist:151 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his views on the reduction in factory prices of beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18427/95]
Written Answers. - Beef Price Reduction.
Factory prices for all grades of cattle have fallen slightly recently as a result of a number of factors, most notably the uncertainty surrounding the level of export refunds to third countries, the impact of the BSE scare on beef consumption in the United Kingdom and the reduction in demand for cow beef in France. However it should be recognised that cattle prices have been at satisfactory levels this year.
I have made it clear that in my view the lower refunds should have only a limited effect on cattle prices over the next couple of months because the bulk of the trade in that period will be conducted with the help of refunds which were fixed at the higher levels. Nevertheless, I am concerned about the longer-term implications of the lower level of refunds and I will continue to press the Commission to have refunds fixed at more realistic levels at the earliest possible date.