asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (1) the number of fat cattle in Donegal at April 1st; (2) the number of licences for export issued or to be issued for the current month; and (3) the number of licences issued or to be issued for April to those feeders who received preferential treatment in March.

The census of stall-fed cattle is at present being taken, and until it is completed it will not be possible to state the number of fat cattle in County Donegal on the 1st April. The proportion of licences to the number of stall-fed cattle held will depend on the total number of cattle in the country as revealed by the census, and until the total number of fat cattle in the country is definitely ascertained it will not be possible to state the number of licences that will be issued to feeders in a particular county. Any feeders who received preferential treatment in March will not receive similar treatment in April.

Might I ask the Minister what is the quota for the whole country?

About 4,200 for the month.

Can the Minister give me an assurance that the County Donegal is getting its absolute share of that quota?

Yes.

Would the Minister in the meantime suspend the operations of the sheriff operating in that area?

I have nothing to do with that. That is a matter for another Department—the Department of Justice.

That is a separate question.

Would the Minister recommend to the Department concerned that the operations of the sheriff should be withheld until the owners of stall-fed cattle will be able to get licences to dispose of them?

Not until there is reason for it.

Does the Minister not know there is already good reason for it?

Would representations made to the Minister, setting forth that it was impossible to get licences to export cattle for sale be an adequate reason to suspend the operations of the sheriff—representations setting forth that the owners of stall-fed cattle there are unable to pay annuities or rates as a result of being unable to export their cattle?

No.