asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries why various brands of instant flake are being imported into this country when coarse and medium rolled flake oatmeal are being manufactured here.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Oatmeal Imports.
32.
Such products may be imported under the terms of the Free Trade Area Agreement. The position is, however, being kept under review.
Is it a fact that because of the existence of this Free Trade Area Agreement nothing at all can be done to save this trade for the manufacturers in this country and for employment here? I understand the quantities are considerable.
The Free Trade Area Agreement deals only with what comes in from the United Kingdom. There are other types of cereals treated and processed in other parts of the world. These have been coming in in increasing quantities over the years. It is not true to say that the only thing that has caused this replacement of oatmeal usage is what is coming in from the United Kingdom. This is not the case.
Is it a fact that we have the capacity in the existing firms to produce this commodity here? Can they produce instant flake here?
No.
It cannot be produced here?
It is not being produced currently.
Is it substituting some other form of flake, then?
How do you mean "substituting"?
Is it taking the place of other forms of flake that are being produced here at present? Otherwise you would not have complaints. There must be some grounds for the complaints about imports.
Two varieties are coming in that contain almost entirely oats and wheat. That type of cereal is not being manufactured here.
Is some cereal very similar to it being manufactured here?
Yes, but not quite the same.