Vol. 492 No. 7
130 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to reports which suggest that fish as a food source is becoming increasingly expensive as measured against an average basket of food products and, accordingly, is becoming a food for the tables of the rich; whether he is concerned by this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15242/98]
Data provided by the Central Statistics Office show that national average prices for whiting, cod and plaice increased by over 4 per cent, 14 per cent and 9 per cent between April 1997 and April 1998. National average prices in the same period for meats increased by 9 per cent in the case of gigot lamb but remained static in the case of steaks and pork. Despite the increase in national average fish prices over the past year fish still represents extremely good value compared to competitor meat products. A price survey carried out by BIM on 19 June at certain north Dublin stores found that cod, whiting and smoked coley were cheaper than all meat alternatives except mince beef. I have summarised the data for the Deputy in the table below.
|
Fish Prices |
Meat Proces |
||
|
£/kg |
£/kg |
||
|
Salmon Whole |
6.58 |
Leg of Spring Lamb |
6.56 |
|
Salmon Steaks |
8.78 |
Sirloin Steak |
8.34 |
|
Plaice Fillet |
10.98 |
Chicken Fillet |
10.56 |
|
Cod/Whiting Fillet |
5.04 |
Spring Lamb Gigot Chop |
7.48 |
|
Smoked Coley |
4.38 |
Stewing Steak |
6.93 |
