asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the progress made by the Ministers who have gone to Italy, Brussels, etc., looking for markets for Irish produce.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Markets for Irish Produce.
2.
As regards the recent Ministerial meeting in Brussels with the EEC Commission, I would refer the Deputy to the reply I gave yesterday to questions about this meeting.
The primary object of the recent visit to Rome by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries was to discuss with the Italian Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ireland's export trade in cattle and beef with Italy. Since his return to Dublin the Minister has discussed with Irish cattle exporters the possibilities for exporting cattle to Italy, and with the Irish Fresh Meat Exporters' Society the possibilities of resuming exports of beef there. Livestock exporters are now exploring further the commercial prospects for sending fat cattle and young cattle to Italy and Irish meat exporters are sending some beef to test the Italian market again.
Could the Taoiseach tell us what the possibilities are? The Government were inactive during the past three years and——
Is this a question or a statement?
I want to know what are the possibilities of the Italians, or any members of the Common Market, taking Irish cattle at present due to the discussions that took place recently?
The shipments to Italy are for the purpose of exploring these possibilities.
Would it not have been better to have done this work inside the past three years rather than to have waited until they had closed the stable door and imposed tariffs on our livestock?
The situation did not arise in the past three years; it arose this year.
Surely if we are getting proper information the Taoiseach or his Ministers should have known this during the past three years? Is it not true that the Taoiseach's Ministers were sitting on their fannies and the Minister for External Affairs was away in America when he should have been doing something for the Irish farmers?
Could the Taoiseach indicate whether his Ministers secured any alleviation of the tariffs now imposed on cattle exports to the EEC?
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a question on that subject yesterday.
It is not a separate question.
I gave a reply to that question yesterday.
I am entitled to ask that question. It is not a separate question.
I did not say it was a separate question.
Does the Taoiseach seriously suggest that we are investigating the potentiality of the Italian market for Irish store cattle?
If you are, you are dafter than I thought.
It is as good as the Free Trade Agreement.