asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will make a statement on the proposal to introduce a levy to finance disease eradication.

The levy to which the Deputy refers is provided for in the Bovine Diseases (Levies) Bill, 1979 which was recently introduced in Dáil Éireann.

How is it proposed to collect this levy?

It is proposed to collect £3 per head on all slaughterings and live exports and a ½p per gallon on milk sold to creameries, and other milk also.

Is the Minister aware that there is very strong opposition among the farming community to the whole concept of the use of a sales levy for the raising of taxation or the raising of finance for disease eradication?

I realise that a levy on the products the farmer has to sell amounts in his terms and in real terms to a reduction in the price, but I am aware above all of the enormous problem of disease eradication. This system will provide in a full year about £9 million towards pursuit of an accelerated disease eradication programme. I am confident that herd owners, while they would prefer if this bill were defrayed from central funds, are prepared to face the music because the music must be faced. It would be impossible to complete our disease eradication programme without the co-operation of herd owners and without their recognising that they are the first beneficiaries of the existence of the Irish cattle herd which provides such a source of income for the country as a whole.

Is the Minister aware that this levy would have to be paid by farmers whether or not they make a loss on the sale of animals?

Yes.

And that a tax levied on that basis is intrinsically unjust?

That is a matter of opinion. This method of raising finance for the disease eradication scheme is related to cattle in the national herd and will have to be paid by herd owners. There is a certain logic in that. I do not quite appreciate how Deputy Bruton would envisage the making of a loss by herd owners on slaughter cattle. Since our entry to the Community, cattle prices have been at a very satisfactory level, particularly of late.

We are dealing with a matter which is to be the subject of legislation.

The Minister seems to assume that every cattle seller must necessarily make a profit. Is he aware that certain studies and projections show that in the likely circumstances losses could be made on summer grazing this year?

Having spent a lifetime in the trade I am aware of all the exigencies. I am also aware that there is far too much huckstering in the life cycle of a particular animal destined to become at some time a beef animal. If this amount of huckstering were reduced it would be to the betterment of the country as a whole. When buying stores the herd owner will have to bear in mind that a levy will have to be paid when selling animals into slaughter.

The Minister is unrealistic.