asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is considering any alteration in the existing price schedules for live cattle exported to Great Britain; and, if so, if he will secure that we continue to receive prices related to prices payable to British farmers as at present.

I am not considering any alteration in the existing price schedules for live cattle exported to Great Britain.

asked the Minister for Agriculture whether proposals have been made on behalf of the Irish Government to the British Government whereunder the existing price schedules for cattle and meat pursuant to the 1948 Trade Agreement should be altered by reducing the price payable for fat cattle exported to Great Britain by 2d. per lb., or approximately £7 per head in exchange for some other trade concession; and, if so, whether he will undertake to consult Dáil Éireann before proceeding with any negotiation designed to levy any charge, large or small, on live-stock exports from Ireland to Great Britain.

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative and the second part does not therefore arise.

Are we to understand from that reply that there has been no proposal to make a levy on cattle exported now from this country?

Certainly not.

None whatever?

No, not even in imagination—even the fertile imagination of the Deputies on the opposite side.

It is not so much in the imagination at all.

It originated in the fertile brains opposite.