Vol. 176 No. 10
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he has seen the reported agreement between the British and Danish Governments to reduce the tariff on Danish bacon imports into Great Britain; whether he has considered the effect of this agreement, if implemented, on future Irish bacon exports to Great Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
20.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will make a statement regarding the effect on this country's bacon exports of the proposal arising from the London talks to abolish the ten per cent. tariff on imports of Danish bacon into Britain.
With your permission, a Cheann Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.
I have seen the announcement of the proposed Agreement between the British and Danish Governments which contemplates the halving of the British duty on imports of Danish bacon as from 1st July, 1960, and the abolition of the duty on 1st July, 1961. These arrangements would mean a cash advantage of considerable size to Danish exporters, but, as I cannot foretell the manner in which this might be utilised by them, it would not at this stage be possible to say what effect the arrangements, if implemented, might have on Irish bacon exports to Britain.
It is, however, desirable to point out that, as our producers are assured of reasonably stable returns for all pigs produced, they need have no apprehensions.
I appreciate that the Minister must exercise some reserve in referring to future supplies but are we to interpret the last sentence of his reply in the sense in which I would wish to interpret it, as an indication to producers that they need have no apprehension in maintaining pig production in future as the high probability is that it is well within our capacity to deal with whatever situation arises from the Danish agreement, and it should not be allowed to operate as a deterrent to future production?
I think that when the Deputy reads the sentence he will see that there can be no room for ambiguity as to its meaning.
And we are in substantial agreement on it?
Yes.
Is it not a fact that the Irish exporter of pigs has lost his ten per cent. preference vis-á-vis the Danish exporter, in the British market?
We have free access as before, of course.
Yes, but the Dane is ten per cent. up.
The Danes now have the same privilege in the British market as we had before. Was the Minister not discussing such affairs with the British Government and should he not, therefore, be in a position to make a more definite statement in this House on the matter?
I have clearly stated in my reply that the agreement, if implemented, would, on 1st July, 1961, have the effect of putting the Danish producer on the same plane as ourselves in regard to that matter. There can be no doubt as to the meaning of the reply I gave.
Is it not true that, vis-á-vis Denmark, in the British market, our position is now relatively much worse than it was but we have reason to hope that our Government will be able to take measures in the future which will in some degree provide compensating advantages for our producers?
It is true to say that our position is and will be the same as it was but the Danish position, if this agreement becomes effective, will be improved.
And we are proportionately at a disadvantage.
The Danes will be on the same basis as we were.
