asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the total amount of slaughter premiums that have been paid in County Clare since the introduction of the scheme.

The total amount of premiums recouped to slaughter premises in respect of cattle accepted direct from producers in County Clare up to 22nd October is £3,404.94.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary ask the Minister to hold a public inquiry into the way the factories are operating the slaughter premium, then putting the cattle into intervention and not giving the farmer——

This is a question dealing with County Clare.

I know the factory involved and I know a very high percentage of the meat is going into intervention. They are paying the slaughter premium and getting intervention price.

The Deputy is giving information to the House and not asking a question.

I am asking the Parliamentary Secretary to hold a public inquiry into it. I can show him the figure the factory are paying. Between the slaughter premium and the price they pay it is 27.5 and they are collecting 35p from intervention. That makes a profit of £45 per head on every beast that goes into the factory.

All I can say on that is, although it is going back a bit far, the assertions made by the Deputies will be investigated.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary have a public inquiry?

No. I am not in any position to speak about that.

The Parliamentary Secretary is protecting the profiteers.

No. If Deputy Crinion or Deputy Gibbons are able to satisfy the Minister that there is fraud in the cattle trade at present, or they can establish a case, I have no doubt that the Minister will take appropriate action because he is standing firmly by the producers. His first obligation is to the producers. Naturally we like to see the processors doing as well as they possibly can in trying to get markets abroad.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there are certain people, certain racketeers, who are able to get 60 cattle per day killed in certain factories?

We are dealing with Question No. 75 now.

Those people are supposed to be the savers of the farmers. They are buying cattle for nothing in the marts. They get their cattle killed.

Question No. 76.

The farmer rears his cattle and when he goes to the factories he gets a very bad price.

If Deputy Sheridan can substantiate his claim that buyers go to marts, purchase cattle and then bring them to the factories and make the package he alleges they make and if we get the names, the matter will be investigated because that is something contrary to the spirit of this whole question. Names and addresses will help very much.

If the Parliamentary Secretary has a public inquiry we are prepared to put facts and figures before it.

I am very concerned to ensure that the prices paid by meat factories for livestock are fair and reasonable. As a result of discussions which I have had with the factories they have agreed to pay minimum prices.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary hold a public inquiry into this scandal and we will give him the facts?

Let the Deputy give the facts first. It is a matter for the Minister to determine.

Will the Deputy put down a question on that?