asked the Taoiseach if he will state the price of each of the different cuts of meat at mid-February, 1954, and at mid-February, 1955, and the effect of such prices on the consumer price index.

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report a statement showing the average retail prices of different cuts of meat at mid-February, 1954. The data for mid-February, 1955, are not yet available. The table also shows the effect in points on the Consumer Price Index (base mid-August, 1947= 100) of an increase of 1d. per 1b. in each of the cuts of meat.

Following is the statement:—

National Average Retail Prices of the different cuts of meat at mid-February, 1954, and the effect in points on the Consumer Price Index, of an increase of 1d. per 1b. of each item.