asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the latest position in this country's EEC negotiations in relation to animal health.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of EEC.
11.
We expect the Community to reply at our meeting today in Brussels at Deputies' level to the proposals which we have put forward on animal health.
Has the Minister felt it necessary to have any technical advice from various farmers' organisations and other similar organisations with expertise, in Brussels to accompany the delegation who are dealing with this matter?
There have been very intensive discussions between our veterinary experts and the Commission coming up to the negotiations and during them.
Would the Minister not agree that he was prepared to take technical advice from the fishery interests and also from the industrial interests and that it might be appropriate to take technical advice from agricultural interests on this very important matter affecting Irish agriculture?
It may happen that they will have to study whatever the Community say to us and if there is an area there which requires technical advice being present in Brussels and available to me I will arrange for it but as I explained to the House before they cannot be present at the negotiations.
Would the Minister state what are the arrangements that we are looking for?
The Deputy will appreciate that we have freedom from certain diseases and we would like to have freedom from inoculation against those diseases, say foot and mouth, and also freedom from the risk of having these diseases coming into our country.
By maintaining our right to keep out animals from other countries?
Yes, and not to inoculate.
Would the Minister then desire that the status quo should be maintained, in other words that we would stay with Britain on the slaughter policy on foot and mouth, whereas the continental countries have their inoculation policies? Is that what we are looking for?
I do not know that we would be exactly on all fours with Britain on this. I think what we would look for is nearer to our own situation and that of the North of Ireland. The inoculation situation is certainly something we would prefer to avoid because this would damage us in other markets. We would like to keep our freedom from the disease and if the disease did come here to have it dealt with by slaughter.
Question No. 12.
Are there any special provisions in the EEC in regard to the export of cattle that may be affected by either TB or brucellosis?
There are provisions and it is these provisions we are negotiating about. I would prefer not to go any further than I have gone today. We will today receive from the Community their idea of how the problem could be dealt with and after that we hope to find a solution satisfactory to our position. It is a negotiating position and I do not think I should say any more at the moment. Brucellosis and TB are included.
12.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any amendment is likely to be necessary to the Continental Shelf Act, 1968 as a result of EEC membership.
13.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland at present exercises any licensing control on mining on the country's continental shelf; and if the freedom of exercise of this control would in any way be affected by proposals at present under consideration by the EEC.
With your permission, a Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.
Under the Continental Shelf Act, 1968, the State exercises licensing control in regard to exploration and exploitation of the natural resources of the continental shelf. These controls will continue after our accession to the EEC and it is not anticipated that any amendment of the Act will be required as a result of membership.
Is the Minister aware that the EEC is in the process of drawing up a common policy in relation to mining on the continental shelf and that while the existing policy might not necessitate any change some change might be necessitated by a common policy which might be adopted?
The Deputy may be thinking that a change in our policy may take us out of the position in which we now are, that is that we are not in conflict with the European policy of non-discrimination.
No.
I do not foresee any change in our Act being required.
Can the Minister give an assurance that there will be no change in the percentage of the profits which we can require to be handed over to our Government from the companies which might be carrying out mining operations on the continental shelf?
I do not know of any reason whatever to change the law. That was the question the Deputy asked.
What is the percentage the Government get at present?
The Deputy will have to put down a question to the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
14.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs what rights of consultation have been obtained for Ireland in the drawing up of a policy for structural reform of farming in the EEC in the period prior to full membership.
Procedures have been agreed in the negotiations under which we shall be consulted in the period between the end of the negotiations and the date of accession on any Community proposals likely to be adopted which might affect our interests. Matters concerning structural reform of agriculture fall into this category.
Would the Minister agree that it is possible that decisions might be taken even before our negotiations are completed and therefore would not be covered by the agreement to which he referred? Would he state what method there is for consultation in that period?
While negotiations are going on we still have the negotiating table for dealing with anything. As the Deputy will have seen the fish regulation came in after negotiations started and we dealt with it at the negotiating table.
Have the Government made any representations in relation to the structural reform policy and the draft proposals?
The new proposals are more suitable to us than the other ones.
That is about all they have done about it.
I think the Deputy should study what is being done.
I have.
He should be very satisfied with what we are doing.
It is noticeable that there is a complete lack of confidence. As soon as the Taoiseach is missing they are like lost sheep.
He will be delighted to hear you said it. We will tell him you said it. At last you have acknowledged it.