Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Product Prices. – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil) – Thursday, 13 Apr 1972

Mr. E. Collins

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a comprehensive statement on the increases agreed to in Brussels for agricultural products of the EEC countries for the coming year; if he will compare these prices with similar products sold by Irish farmers, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Mr. J. Gibbons

I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate with the Official Report tabular statements showing the EEC common prices for 1972-73 for the main agricultural products of interest to us and the nearest comparable Irish prices for the same products. I would point out, however, that comparisons between the two sets of prices should be treated with reserve because of the different pricing systems in operation here and in the Community and because of such factors as differences in grading, quality, point of sale, seasonal variations, et cetera.

In accordance with the terms negotiated for Ireland's accession to the Community Irish prices will fall to be aligned with the Community's common prices in six steps in the transitional period of five years ending on 31st December, 1977.

Following are the statements:

Table I—Common Prices in EEC for 1972-73

Product	Nature of Price	Price for 1972-73	Percentage increase on 1971-72
		£	%
Soft Wheat	Target Price (a)	48.18 per ton	4
	Basic Intervention Price (a)	44.34,,,,	4
Barley	Target Price (a)	44.12,,,,	4
	Basic Intervention Price (a)	40.51,,,,	4
Sugar Beet	Minimum Price (b)	7.49,,,,	4
	“B” Price (b)	4.40,,,,	4
Sugar	Target Price for White Sugar	103.06,,,,	2.6
	Intervention Price for White Sugar	98.20,,,,	2.6
Milk	Target Price (related to 3.5% butterfat content)	21.6 per gallon	8
Butter	Intervention Price	761.94 per ton increasing to 787.34 on 15 September 1972	1.1increasing to4.4
Skim Milk Powder	Intervention Price	228.58 per ton	14.9
Cattle	Guide Price (c)	15.85 per cwt.liveweight	4
Pigmeat	Basic Price (d)	17.52 per cwt.deadweight	3.1

(a) Wholesale delivered prices for grain of 16 per cent moisture.

(b) The minimum price shown for sugar beet applies to the quantity of beet necessary to produce the national sugar quota in a member state. The "B" price applies to beet for the production of sugar between 100 per cent and 135 per cent of the national quota.

(c) This guide price is to be reviewed further before 15th September, 1972.

(d) The basic price for pigs is used only for determining intervention in the market. Market prices are generally higher throughout the Community.

Table II—Nearest Comparable Irish Prices

Product	Price

Soft WheatBarley	£41 per ton£32 ,, ,,	These are estimates of the wholesale prices that would be comparable to the EEC intervention prices, based on the Irish guaranteed price for wheat and support price for feeding barley. In making comparision costs of transport to Duisburg should be taken into account.
Sugar Beet	£7.94 per ton	While an exact comparison between the Irish and EEC prices cannot be made because of differences in the arrangements for transport of the beet and return of pulp to the growers it is estimated that the prices are at about the same level.
Sugar	£92 per ton ex-factory
Milk	13.3p per gallon	Average creamery price (including skim) in 1971. The price for 1972 will show an increase as a result of the revised pricing arrangements introduced at the end of 1971.
Butter	£725 per ton
Skim Milk Powder	£185 per ton
Cattle	£10.77 per cwt. liveweight	Average price in 1971 at marts and fairs for bullocks of 9-10 cwt. liveweight.
Pigs	£15.02 per cwt. deadweight	Average price in 1971 for bacon pigs at markets.

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Apr 1972