asked the Taoiseach the number of cows which were slaughtered in (a) 1983 and (b) 1984.

Dún Laoghaire): The estimated numbers of cows slaughtered were 315,600 in 1983 and 330,000 in 1984. The 1984 figure is provisional.

Could I ask the Minister if any of the cows slaughtered were sacred cows in the political sense?

That is a separate question.