asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if this country's legislation in relation to the registration of packing premises and the licensing of exporters will be affected in any respect by EEC regulations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Packing Premises and Export Licences.
41.
The position in regard to the licensing and registration of processing or packing premises and of exporters is at present being examined but so far as can be foreseen at this stage no major changes in our existing arrangements will be required on Ireland's accession to the EEC. Any quantitative regulation of exports is, however, incompatible with the Community's agricultural regulations.
Is the Minister aware that legislation in regard to the registration of packing premises and the licensing of exporters was promised in the Third Programme and the reason given for not introducing it was that we would have to see what would happen in the EEC? The Minister has now told us that our existing arrangements —there are not any, I suppose—would not be affected by the EEC. Can he state if the EEC would affect any potential legislation we might wish to introduce?
Any legislation contemplated would have to be examined beforehand for compatibility with the EEC regulations.
Are there any EEC regulations in regard to packing premises and the licensing of exports?
There are. Our regulations are compatible, as far as I can see.