asked the Taoiseach if he will state for each of the years 1965, 1966 and 1967 the average price paid for store cattle for the week ended 3rd June.

Average prices of cattle at store sales are calculated on a monthly basis. The average live-weight price per cwt. of store bullocks in Dublin was 165s 3rd in May, 1967; 180s 3d in May, 1966 and 180s 0d in May, 1965.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary give any reason why cattle prices are now 20/- per cwt less than they were two years ago?

These are factual questions and these supplementaries do not relevantly arise from them.

3.

asked the Taoiseach if he will state for each of the years 1965, 1966 and 1967 the average price paid for at cattle for the week ended 3rd June.

The average live-weight price per cwt. of fat cattle at Dublin Market for the week ended 3rd June, 1967 was 152s 0d. The corresponding prices in 1966 and 1965 were 173s 3d and 170s 6d respectively.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that the price is 20/- per cwt. less than they were told it would be under the Free Trade Agreement?

That does not arise. This is a factual question and the supplementary does not therefore arise.

The Deputy must remember that the month of May was the worst on record.

Surely the Parliamentary Secretary recognises that the same figures are there for the month of April; there was then, too, a reduction of 20/- per cwt.?

This is a factual question and these matters do not relevantly arise from it.