asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if the withdrawal of the Irish £10 portion of the permanent slaughter subsidy will not have the effect of directing greater pressure to the intervention market.

No, because of the increase in export market prices. Payment of the UK beef variable premium ceased early in March for the same reason.

Does the Minister not accept that the withdrawal of the Irish portion of the permanent slaughter scheme has resulted in a drop in the price of meat being taken in the factories?

As I said earlier, the price of cattle has gone up this week.

Could I assure the Minister——

A question Deputy, please.

——that, although the intervention price is about 40.6p per lb, the current price for beef which does not make that grade and which receives the depleted slaughter subsidy is 36.64p per lb.

The Deputy is not asking a question.

Is the Deputy making the case that the processing factories here should not be trying to market commercially? I think he is.

What the Minister should do is give the factories a chance to market.

This is Question Time, Deputy.

28.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the amount paid in 1974 through the slaughter premium scheme.

The total amount paid by my Department in 1974 under the slaughter premium scheme was £1.8 million.

Might I ask the Minister what was the EEC contribution?

I am afraid I have not that additional information.

I thought it was asked for in the question.

It was not made quite clear in the question whether he was asking for the EEC contribution.

Could the Minister give an approximation?

I will give the Deputy the additional information.