asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will consider the necessity for long-term agreements with countries which purchase dressed meat from the Republic, so as to ensure continued maximum production and adequate protection for the industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meat Agreements.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the countries with which we have trade agreements wherein they agree to purchase dressed or frozen meat from the Republic, the quantity in each case and the tonnage exported to each country in the last year for which figures are available.
Mr. Walsh
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 57 together.
I am aware of the necessity for taking all possible steps to provide long-term outlets for our dressed meat, and this will continue to be the policy of the Government. The countries with which we have trade agreements providing for the import of dressed meat from this country are Britain, Germany and Spain. In the annex to the 1948 Trade Agreement, the revision of which is at present under consideration, Britain undertook to import dressed beef from this country at a rate of 200 tons per week, subject to an annual figure of 4,000 tons. In practice, however, much greater quantities were purchased by the British Ministry of Food. Actual exports of beef to Britain last season — that is from the 1st July, 1951, to the 30th June, 1952 — amounted to approximately 10,000 tons.
Dressed lamb and mutton are purchased by the Ministry of Food under an arrangement made in 1949 pursuant to the 1948 Trade Agreement. No limit of quantity is specified. Exports in 1951-52 amounted to 1,127 tons. Under a long-term agreement of 1951 with the Ministry of Food, an unrestricted outlet has been provided for pork, and since the commencement of exports to the Ministry last July up to 4,000 tons of pork carcases have been shipped.
Germany has undertaken to provide import and currency facilities for 1,000 tons of Irish dressed beef in the period December, 1952, to April, 1953. The quantity exported to Germany last season was 1,430 tons, the bulk of which was consigned to the United States forces there. The Spanish Government has undertaken that if, in any year, the necessities of the Spanish economy require the importation of meat, import and currency facilities will be granted for imports of meat from Ireland. The quantity exported to Spain last season was 2,904 tons of dressed beef.
Would the Minister take all steps to enter into agreements with other countries to take dressed or frozen meat from this country?
Mr. Walsh
He is taking them.
Would the Minister ensure that in any revision of the 1948 Trade Agreement there will be no limit imposed on the amount of live stock or dead meat that we shall export to any country outside Britain?