asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has made an assessment of the effects of EEC membership on the agricultural industry; and, if so, how and when he intends to make this information available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Agriculture in EEC Conditions.
35.
A general assessment of the effects of EEC membership on the Irish agricultural industry was given by the Taoiseach in his statement to the House on 25th July last when moving the motion relating to the reactivation of Ireland's application for membership of the EEC.
A detailed study of the implications of membership for Irish agriculture is at present being made for the National Agricultural Council by a special study group consisting of representatives of my Department, the Department of Finance, An Foras Talúntais and one of the Universities. I am not yet in a position to say when the group's report will be available for examination by the National Agricultural Council. It should, of course, be realised that many aspects of the Community's common agricultural policy have only recently been settled and that many matters still remain to be agreed upon by the six Member States before that policy becomes fully operative about the middle of next year.
Is the Minister aware that before the Recess he made an announcement in this House that this investigation was in progress then? Is it a fact that it has taken six months or more to prepare an assessment of the effects of EEC membership on agriculture?
We have not got any instant answers to the problems that will be presented, if and when we become members of the EEC.
Then the assessment is not being made until we are in?
The assessment is in course of being made.
It has been in that course for six months.