asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if it is his intention to introduce legislation to reconstitute any or all of the boards concerned with the home or export marketing of Irish agricultural produce; and, if so, if he will indicate the reasons for inclusion or exclusion of certain products from the scope of the legislation and the date from which it is proposed that the legislation will become operative.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Produce Marketing.
57.
Where trading monopolies which will not comply with EEC regulations exist, the industries concerned have been asked to consider the desirability of their forming voluntary centralised marketing organisations. The question of legislation affecting the status of existing boards will be dealt with in the light of the outcome of such consideration by the industries.
Is it not the case that an announcement has been made—I am not sure with what authority— that legislation is imminent in regard to the winding up of Bord Bainne? In view of this, would he state the position in a similar context in regard to bodies such as the Pigs and Bacon Commission and An Bord Gráin?
It is likely in the case of monopoly export boards with a statutory basis, that this statutory basis will have to be altered. It is also known that the industries handling these commodities have under active consideration at present the establishment of marketing boards of a voluntary kind. The legal status of these boards will probably have to be changed. I cannot say at the moment when that will be done but I would expect that it will be fairly soon.
In view of the fact that the Minister says that the position of monopoly export boards will be affected, and in view of the fact that the Community consists of one single market with no distinction as between home and export markets, why will not the position of monopoly home market boards such as An Bord Gráin be similarly affected?
The question does not deal specifically with An Bord Gráin.
It deals with home and export market boards.
If the Deputy has any particular question about An Bord Gráin I would be glad if he would put down a question dealing specifically with his problem.
Is the Minister aware that we asked An Bord Gráin about a month ago to state their role in the EEC and they said they did not know their role. It is a very bad situation with only six months to go if An Bord Gráin do not know their role.
It is a very complex question and it and a great many others arising at present have to be threshed out in the light of the negotiations with Brussels and in the light of the arrangements existing at present in Brussels.
How long will this take?
It will be a continuous process. The determination of the ultimate situation of the different boards will have to be resolved pretty quickly.