(Limerick West): In view of what the Minister has stated in his reply regarding Question No. 33, that slaughterings this year are up by 8 per cent, how can he reconcile that statement with what has already been stated by his party colleague, Deputy Durkan, that a number of meat factories are closing down and a number of others are on a three-day week?

As I stated, the number of slaughterings in 1983 is up by 8 per cent over the corresponding period in 1982. If some plants are doing excessively good business, I can only congratulate them.

(Limerick West): Would the Minister consider that the increase in slaughterings is due to the high incidence of cattle being eradicated because of disease, both TB and brucellosis?

Not necessarily.

(Limerick West): Could the Minister give us the different figures?

I would want to have a volume with me, not just a few questions. That is a different question altogether from that on the Order Paper.

(Limerick West): Would the Minister reply yes or no?

That more cattle are being slaughtered under the disease eradication programme, whether for bovine TB or brucellosis, is not the answer.

That is a separate question.

From my information the incidence is showing a reduction which would indicate that that would be the very reverse of what the Deputy is insinuating in his question.