asked the Taoiseach the present position of the talks between Britain and Ireland on the Anglo-Irish Free Trade agreement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement.
1.
As Deputies are aware, the operation of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement was discussed by Irish and British Ministers in London on 19th and 20th February last. Since then there has been continuing contact between the two Governments on various aspects of the agreement such as the question of the supply of Irish butter and cheese to the British market for 1970-71, the arrangements for which were announced recently.
Would the Taoiseach not admit that this agreement is working very much to the advantage of Great Britain and to our disadvantage and that our adverse trade balance with Britain has increased from something like £1 million a year to £60 million or £70 million?
I do not accept that contention. As I explained before, the adverse trade balance is not due to any appreciable degree to the operation of the agreement and so far as it is, the adverse trade balance is being brought about to a large extent by the import of capital goods for further production.
How can it be called a free trade agreement when Britain can send in what she likes to the detriment of our industrialists while we can export to Britain only a small percentage of our surplus of butter and bacon, for example?
That is a separate matter. Question No. 2.