asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement in regard to the cattle trade with Britain and the Continent; what are the prospects of higher prices for cattle exported in the spring of 1968; what arrangements he is making with this in view; and what recent steps his Department have taken to ensure much improved prices for livestock.

38.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will indicate the likely prospects for the cattle trade over the next six months.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose taking Questions Nos. 37 and 38 together.

Trade in cattle and beef with Britain this year has been at a much higher level than last year. Exports of store cattle to the UK during the period January to September this year were approximately 130,000 head higher than in the corresponding period of 1966, and for the full year 1967 seem likely to reach about 600,000 head as compared with 391,000 head in 1966. Slaughterings of cattle for export to Britain in carcase form have been at a record high level this year. While trade with the Continent remains difficult because of the prohibitive import levies in operation in the EEC area, our total exports of cattle, live and dead, to all destinations so far this year are about 300,000 head higher than in the first nine months of 1966.

This greatly increased volume of exports has been reflected in the firmer market prices obtaining for cattle. Prices have, of course, also been assisted by the support payments on good quality carcase beef exported to Britain. The seasonal upturn in cattle prices normally occurs about the end of November and prices usually reach their seasonal peak in the late spring. In view of this and having regard to the present situation of the trade, it is not unreasonable to expect that cattle prices generally will be fairly firm over the next six months.

Does the Minister imply that the reason for the increase this year is the marked reduction in the number of cattle sold last year, 391,000 head, according to the Minister's reply, as against the target announced by the Minister for Finance, in the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement, of 638,000 store cattle? That was the figure mentioned as our quota and are we to assume from the Minister's reply that last year we failed to meet this minimum target by almost 250,000 and that this year we are still falling short of it to the extent of 38,000?

Might I ask the Deputy a question? Is the Deputy dissatisfied with the outturn this year?

Is it not quite clear that we are unable—and this is the responsibility of the Government —to negotiate the sale of the number of cattle laid down——

This is an argument and not a question.

—— in the Trade Agreement about which we heard so much?

The Deputy is making a speech.

Is the Minister not aware that the number stated in that Agreement was 638,000 and we sold 391,000 last year, and even this year, about which the Minister is boasting, we are down 38,000 and unfortunately the prices are far less than what it was anticipated they would be under that Trade Agreement?

May I inquire from the Minister if there is any likelihood of cattle going to Germany in the present year?

In these days you never know where cattle may find themselves.

The farmers know where they are going.

As long as they are going, that is the main thing.

Two thousand of them.