asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that the EEC purchases of livestock and meat, particularly beef, from Eastern Europe are steadily rising; and what action he intends to take to induce EEC countries to purchase cattle and beef from Ireland, having special regard to the adverse Irish balance of trade with almost all EEC countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Cattle in EEC Countries.
9.
I am aware that imports of cattle and beef into EEC countries from Eastern Europe have increased. These imports are subject to the same rates of import levy and customs duty as apply to imports from Ireland and other non-member countries, and evidently they take place because the countries concerned supply at very low prices. Even supplementary levies imposed by the EEC have not been preventing very low-priced imports of cattle and beef from Eastern Europe.
All possible efforts are being made to ensure the purchase of Irish cattle and beef by the EEC countries on a reasonable economic basis and in this connection no opportunity is lost of bringing to the notice of those countries the fact that we have an adverse balance of trade with them.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that communist countries are supplying more beef to the EEC countries, where we should be selling our cattle? What are the Minister and the Department doing at the present time to ensure that we sell our cattle there, or have the 2,000 that we were to supply last September even been shipped yet?
Our officials at the Kennedy Round talks were pressing for entry of our cattle to the EEC countries. Surely the Deputy is not now putting forward the case that we should compete with low-priced cattle to get into the EEC?
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say if we are making any effort to secure some of the purchases required by the Italian Government of young cattle?
The Deputy can be assured the Minister is making every effort.
If our Minister and officials are pressing, where are the results? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that communist countries up to last year were supplying only something like 14 per cent in beef and are now supplying at least 27.5 per cent beef to these countries? If our Minister and officials are pressing, what are the results? Where are they? Can the Parliamentary Secretary inform the House and the country of the results?
The Deputy is aware that the Government do not believe in fás-aon-oiche policies.