asked the Minister for Agriculture why the market for lamb in France has ceased; and what are the prospects of having it reopened.
7.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Continental Markets for Sheep and Lambs.
6.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if there is at present any market for sheep or lambs in France or in any other Continental country; and what steps are being taken to procure and expand a market for sheep and lambs in those countries.
With the permission of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
The export of lamb to France has ceased because French domestic supplies are adequate to meet the demand. The market prospects for our lamb on the Continent are not promising at present.
Is it not a fact that we permit imports of French cheese although, strictly speaking, we could supply our own requirements of cheese? If we make trading concessions of that kind to France and if, at the same time, France has a substantial advantage in her trade balance with us, surely it would be reasonable for France to accept some of our lamb in consideration of the trade concessions we make to her?
With regard to our recent discussions with representatives of the French Government, as I have already told this House, the discussions were actually broken off on this issue. Every effort was made to secure for our sheep and lamb producers an outlet on this market but it was not possible to secure such concession.
Do we propose to continue allowing any country in Europe which has a large favourable trade balance with us to tell us they will not take our goods, even to the point of balancing our trade, approximately? Surely there must come a time when we must say to persons who will not take our goods to the point of balancing our trade approximately that if they will not let us send the goods, we must take steps to restrict our imports from them? I do not say that the Minister should do that. I acknowledge the Minister's difficulty. I experienced it myself. However, surely there does come a point at some stage—or am I wrong?—when we ought to invoke that element of sanction.
The Minister for Industry and Commerce has already indicated to the House that the matter to which the Deputy refers is under review. I should like to pose this question: if, in the course of discussions such as those which have taken place between the French authorities and ourselves, you find it impossible to secure something which you are strenuously endeavouring to get, will you when you discover you are unable to secure that concession, refuse to take advantage of other concessions that are still made available to you on other sides, simply because you just cannot get the apple on which you have your heart set?
I do not think the Chair would allow the Minister and myself to debate this matter, but will the Minister agree that if an absolute prohibition is placed on such an important export for us, the nation so doing has some kind of implied obligation to make a proposal which will bring our trade into relative balance, but they are not entitled to say: "We will not take your lamb and we will not take enough of anything else to bring your export and import trade into proper balance."
I have told the Deputy that these matters, as the Minister for Industry and Commerce has indicated, are being examined not only in relation to France but also some other countries. I am trying in the course of my supplementary replies to indicate that in the course of discussions of this kind one may aim at something which is perhaps the ideal thing but if one cannot get it, to my mind, it would be foolish to ignore other advantages that can be obtained as an alternative.
Question No. 8.
May I ask the Minister——
I have called Question No. 8.
I have not been allowed to ask any supplementary question.
I have not heard the Minister's reply.