asked the Taoiseach if he has seen the recent policy statement issuing from the Conservative Party Conference which envisaged the abolition of the deficiency payments system in British agriculture; and whether the eventual disappearance of this method of subsidy which the return of a British Conservative Government would make possible, has been borne in mind by all negotiators in the present Free Trade talks.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - British Deficiency Payments.
1.
Mr. O'Leary
The policy statement of the British Conservative Party refers to shifting "the emphasis gradually for more commodities from support by deficiency payments to support by import control".
The prospect that such a change of policy may be brought about at some future time by the British Government is, of course, very relevant to the present negotiations, and is one reason why it is important for this country that these negotiations should be successful.
Mr. O'Leary
The eventual possibility of Britain going into Europe will most certainly alter the present form of agricultural support. Does the Taoiseach see this as having any bearing on the nature of our negotiations at the moment in our search for concessions on the agricultural front?
If the Deputy is asking whether Britain's admission to membership of the European Economic Community has a bearing on this situation, of course it has a very definite bearing and, as I have already said, we regard any agreement which we may now make with the British as operating only until membership of the Common Market becomes possible for Britain and ourselves.
Mr. O'Leary
If concessions are gained on the agricultural front, as to the future of which there is a big question mark, in view of later developments, and if on the result of the present negotiations hangs success on this agricultural front, does this not have a bearing on the entire negotiations and is not there a possibility that we are rather searching for advantage that will disappear in the near future?
It is true that any arrangement we might make now with Britain regarding agricultural exports to Britain will cease to operate if we become members of the Common Market and in these circumstances our trade in agricultural products would be conducted under the rules of the Common Market.
If we get an advantage from Britain in respect of these deficiency payments, it will be very temporary if we are going into the EEC?
If that proves to be so.