Does intervention beef stored at sea qualify as humanitarian cargo?

No.

A great deal of our beef is stored at sea in intervention ships and cargoes — it should not be there, of course, but it is. I hope we do not use the word "humanitarian" in that broad context so that such cargoes would qualify as humanitarian cargoes.

Would the Minister explain what is encompassed by humanitarian cargoes?

I suppose charity for Third World countries and so on.

As Deputy Kemmy said, for relief of famine and humanitarian purposes which I am sure the Deputy will agree is a worthwhile cause — blankets, foodstuffs, fuel for emergency situations and so on.