asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if it will be necessary to amend any of the legislation relating to the marketing of Irish agricultural produce; and, if so, if he will indicate the Acts which will have to be amended and the purposes of the amendments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Agricultural Goods.
26.
Such changes as may be required in legislation relating to the marketing of Irish agricultural produce are at present under examination in the context of Ireland's accession to the European Communities.
Is it not the case that this legislation will have to be introduced before the end of the year and, if so, surely the Minister should be in a position by now to give somewhat more information than he has given?
The possible changes in legislation which may arise are at present being examined by the Attorney General and on his recommendations the necessary legislation, if any, will be prepared.
When does the Minister expect to have these recommendations?
That is another question.
27.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the amount of money spent in the last five years by his Department on (a) the promotion of Irish agricultural goods and (b) the marketing of Irish agricultural goods; and if he will give a breakdown of the bodies through whom it was spent and the way in which it was spent.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving as far as practicable the information asked for.
Following is the statement:
|
Description of Expenditure |
Financial Year/Amount Spent |
Notes |
||||
|
1966-67 |
1967-68 |
1968-69 |
1969-70 |
1970-71 |
||
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
||
|
Export Support for Carcase Beef and Lamb. |
1,867,517 |
6,184,443 |
2,402,038 |
2,051,498 |
3,850,325 |
Paid directly by the Department to Exporters. |
|
Export Support for Live Cattle |
655,953 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Paid in respect of fat cattle exported to Britain in the Autumn of 1966; paid directly by the Department to Exporters. |
|
Promotions in Britain for Irish Store Cattle. |
5,560 |
12,639 |
34,457 |
840 |
— |
Paid by way of (1) Grants to Exhibitors and (2) Directly by the Department to Publicity Agencies. |
|
Export Promotion for Live Cattle, Sheep, Beef and Lamb. |
— |
— |
4,300 |
115,000 |
180,000 |
Paid by the Department to Córas Beostoic agus Feola Teoranta. |
|
Export Support and Marketing Expenses for Dairy Products. |
3,450,000 |
3,300,000 |
6,910,000 |
10,690,000 |
7,050,000 |
Paid by the Department to An Bord Bainne towards meeting two-thirds of the Board's export losses; the amounts shown include in each year a sum of £50,000 towards the Board's marketing expenses. |
|
Export Support for Bacon and Pork |
1,200,000 |
1,418,000 |
2,950,000 |
3,600,000 |
3,090,000 |
Paid by the Department to the Pigs and Bacon Commission. In the year 1967-68 the amount shown includes a sum of £18,245 in respect of live pig exports. |
|
Market Promotion and Development in connection with the Sea Fishery Industry. |
41,068 |
49,226 |
36,909 |
41,489 |
68,696 |
Paid by the Department to An Bord Iascaigh Mhara. |
|
Promotion of Increased Consumption of Milk and Dairy Products on the Home Market. |
30,000 |
30,000 |
30,000 |
41,000 |
99,000 |
Paid by the Department to the National Dairy Publicity Council. |
28.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in EEC conditions, it will be permissible for him to provide funds for promotional as distinct from marketing operations by Irish agricultural export boards; and, if so, if he will indicate his policy in the matter.
I would refer the Deputy to paragraphs 196 to 200 of the Appendix to the White Paper on The Accession of Ireland to the European Communities which deal with State aids in the agricultural sector and with the position of marketing boards. As indicated in the White Paper, the general rule on State aids is that aids which distort or threaten to distort competition within the Community are deemed to be incompatible with the Common Market. Within this general rule the position of particular aids will fall to be examined by the Commission of the enlarged Community.
Could the Minister state if at present national governments within EEC are providing money for the promotion, as distinct from the marketing, of agricultural produce? If so, he should surely be able to assess on that basis what would be permitted here.
I am not so aware. I am aware of the regulation to which I referred in my reply that any action by a Government which would tend to distort trade unfairly would be against the regulations of the Community. For instance, while it might be acceptable to advocate consumption of butter as such within the Community, if we as a Government were to advocate the use of Irish butter within the Community, that would probably be considered to be an unfair practice.
Would the Minister agree that if that were the case, Córas Tráchtála would have to shut down?
No, I do not think so.