asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if subsidies on ryegrass and clover seeds will be applicable and payable to farmers from EEC funds in the first years of this country's entry into the EEC; at what rates per 100 kilos; and if there will be any upper limit to the quantity on which subsidy, if any, will be paid and for how many years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Seed Subsidies and Regulations.
89.
Provision is made in the EEC regulation relating to the common organisation of the market in seeds for payment of production aid for certain classes of certified ryegrass and clover seeds.
The level of aid in the case of existing Community members has not yet been finally fixed for 1972-73 or 1973-74. I am having the necessary steps taken to secure application of this aid to ryegrass seed production in this country following our accession.
I am not aware of any upper limit to the quantity on which aid will be paid. The regulation provides that normally the aid will be fixed each year.
Would the Minister give an assurance that this aid will be available from 1st February?
In order to ensure that there is no serious drop in the incomes of grass seed producers in the context of our quantitative restrictions being removed, it will be necessary to adopt some new support measures and we will adopt some necessary support measures.
90.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the date on which seeds which are included on the EEC list must be accepted into this country from EEC countries; and the date on which all seeds sold in this country must be certified under EEC regulations.
A national list of approved varieties for this country will have to be established by the 1st January, 1973. Seeds of any varieties on that list certified in the EEC countries may as from 1st February, 1973, be marketed here.
As regards EEC directives on seed certification requirements, this country will, under the accession treaty, have from two and a half to four and a half years after 1st January, 1973, according to the class of seed, to implement the requirements.