Vol. 237 No. 4
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if the recently announced proposals of the British Government to cut back on agricultural imports at the rate of £160 million a year by 1972 will affect the growth of agricultural exports from this country; and if he proposes to have any discussions with the British Government on this matter.
29.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if the recently announced proposals of the British Government to cut back on agricultural imports to Britain will mean any alteration in the terms of the Anglo Irish Free Trade Agreement; and if he will seek to have the terms of that Agreement revised.
30.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his attention has been drawn to a recent statement by the British Minister of Agriculture regarding plans to reduce agricultural imports to Britain; if he proposes to take any steps to obviate any adverse results of such a move for Irish agricultural exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
31.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his attention has been drawn to a report that there is a move to cut English farm imports by £160 million; and if this is likely to have any adverse effects on Irish agricultural products.
32.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the recent statement by the British Minister of Agriculture on the expansion of agricultural production in Britain by 1972, he proposes to hold immediate discussions with Britain under the terms of the Anglo Irish Free Trade Agreement.
33.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his attention has been drawn to the statement by the British Minister of Agriculture in connection with his plans for the expansion of British agriculture to the extent of £160 million over the next five years, to increase beef production to 160,000 tons and milk production to 240 million gallons; whether this programme will mean a reduction in Irish exports to Britain; if so, what profitable alternative markets are available; what steps he proposes to take so that Irish farmers may be able to meet this challenge; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 together.
The statement on agricultural policy which was made by the British Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the House of Commons on 12th November does not include any proposals for restricting imports of agricultural products from this country. The Minister indicated that it represented a continuance of the established policy of "selective expansion" which has been followed since 1965. The statement referred to and also an address by the Minister in London on 13th November are being studied by my Department and I will naturally take up in an appropriate manner with the British authorities any aspects that might give ground for any concern.
With regard to the Free Trade Area Agreement our exports are unaffected. I would like to make clear that under the Agreement the question of regulating imports of an Irish agricultural product into Britain could arise only in circumstances which would involve a restriction of British domestic production or marketing of the products concerned as well as a restriction on supplies from other countries; in that event, the British Government would be obliged to afford opportunities for the growth of imports from Ireland which would be proportionately not less favourable than those allowed to British home producers. No restriction can of course in any event be applied to imports of store cattle, sheep and lambs from Ireland. I might add that in his address on 13th November Mr. Hughes referred specifically to Britain's obligations under the Free Trade Area Agreement.
Can we take it that arising out of the proposals by the British Government and the British Minister of Agriculture there will be no change so far as Ireland is concerned?
Not as we see it at the moment but I have said that we are studying it and a further statement will be made afterwards.
It is hoped that the Minister and his Department will make immediate contact with their counterparts in Britain when this examination has been completed and we trust that the examination will be completed very soon.
Have we any communication from the British Minister of Agriculture in advance of the statement?
A communication in what regard?
In relation to the terms of the statement and what was likely to happen under it.
As a matter of courtesy I knew before the statement was made. It is a courtesy in such a thing as this. Apart from this there were no discussions or talks.
Was there an official communication from the British Minister of Agriculture to the effect that this was going to happen?
Not to me.
Would you not imagine that within the spirit of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement there would be such consultation between our Minister for Agriculture and the British Minister of Agriculture?
Is that not laid down in the terms of the agreement?
Not on the basis as we see it at the moment. It is a continuance of selective expansion which has been in operation as a policy of selective expansion since 1965.
This is a very serious thing for Irish agriculture. The Minister said he was concerned. You would think there should have been some consultation with the British Minister of Agriculture that these changes were going to happen.
First of all, we rely on what is in the statement which does not seem to have departed from what has been the practice in regard to expansion as declared pre-1965. It is said in regard to future years that this is a continuance on that basis of selective expansion. The fact that it has not been raised in any specific manner or any part of it or any indication given or views sought by a British Minister from his counterpart here would further confirm the view one can take from his statement that there is nothing really new in what he has said.
You do not trust it. From the Minister's final statement when he talks of possible revision in 1975, would the Minister think this was more than a routine statement or would he admit to a certain surprise that the whole tone of the statement of the British Minister of Agriculture appears to be that we may expect a break in the expansion of Irish agricultural exports to Britain?
There has got to be a break with the Free Trade Area Agreement terms already arranged and there is procedure where if there is any change discussions and talks must take place before that should happen.
Is it not a fact that if the British have more cattle and more milk they will need less cattle and less milk products from us and we have no way of compelling them to take more cattle? That is the serious aspect of it.
I think if the Deputy looks at the statement the Minister went to great lengths to indicate his concern to honour their obligations under their various trade arrangements. This, he said, very specifically and that must be taken into account.
That was the case in 1966 when we had a cattle slump. They would take a small number of cattle from us at give-away prices, which provides no guarantee whatever, and this growth factor, although we are supposed to be in the agreement, does not exist.
This is not quite the same thing. The question as to what happened in 1966 has not been asked here.
Will the Minister be making any special representations to the British Minister of Agriculture in the light of this speech?
If we find on examination of the statement and of the address that he made shortly after on the same thing that there is something of note that we must see about then, as I have already said, appropriate action will be taken.
Where there is a proposal to vary the obligation on the Government in Britain is there not an obligation under the terms of the agreement to consult with the Government here?
That is so
Has that been done here?
That has not been done.
It need not be varied and they need not take the stock from us if they do not want to.
There is an obligation to consult if there is to be a variation. No consultation has taken place in this instance. It is not evident from the statements that have already been made, the statements referred to, that a variation is proposed. We in the Department have been and are at this moment examining this and the subsequent statement made to see, in fact, whether there may be implications in what has been said that would bring about a variation which in turn could be referred back to the clause where revision is necessary.
Is the Minister in a position to say when this examination will be completed?
No. I am not.
Will it take weeks or months?
It may be a matter of weeks. I would not like to confine myself. It will be done as soon as ever we can.
Has the Minister any plan to meet farming organisations?
Put down a question for the next day and I will give you an answer.
Question No. 34.
