asked the Minister for Agriculture the total amount and value of (a) butter and (b) meat held in this country under EC intervention on the latest date for which figures are available.

On 30 April 1985 total intervention stocks of 82,000 tonnes of beef valued at £210 million and 62,000 tonnes of butter valued at £152 million were held in Irish cold stores.

Does this mean that the amount of beef in storage has increased by between 30 per cent and 40 per cent over the 1984 figure?

The Deputy asked a question on this subject on 11 December 1984 and the reply was that on 30 November 1984 total intervention stocks of beef were 87,000 tonnes so the amount of beef in storage has decreased since that date.

The Minister gave a figure for 30 April 1985 of 82,000 tonnes. I presume beef stocks would be at their lowest in April because the killings would be later in the year. Would they be at their highest in the autumn?

That would be a fair assumption.

Would I be correct in saying that at this time last year stocks of beef were in the 60,000 tonne bracket — in other words, that they have increased by about 30 per cent?

I have not got the figures relating to this time last year. I have only got the figures relating to the last time the Deputy asked a question, which was in respect of 30 November 1984. The general thrust of the Deputy's question is correct. One would expect that intervention stocks at this time of the year would be lower. In fact, they are at a comparatively high level at present.