asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of this country's entry to the EEC and the consequent improved prospect for agricultural exports to continental Europe, he intends to appoint agricultural attachés in any embassies on the Continent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Attachés.
8.
Irish export interests, whether in the agricultural or industrial sectors, will continue to receive the fullest co-operation and assistance from our embassies in the enlarged European Community. Should these services prove inadequate to meet demands in any sector the staff of the embassy concerned will be appropriately strengthened.
Would the Minister not agree that there is an obvious case for a substantial increase in the number of agricultural attachés in view of the fact that while CTT are responsible for industrial exports the people in the embassies are the only people responsible for the promotion of agricultural exports? We have a completely different situation now in regard to access to the European market than we had heretofore. There is a greater need for agricultural promotion in Europe than there was ever before. The number of attachés supplied heretofore will be out of proportion to the needs from now on.
The Deputy will accept the principle of tailoring what we do to our capacity and our needs. The mission in the EEC at present have a commercial counsellor with supporting staff to deal with this. So have the mission in London where the need is obvious. There is no evidence at the moment that the need in the other embassies is emerging from membership. If it does, I will take the appropriate steps.
A number of our agricultural exporters may not have a facility in French, Italian and German. It would be useful to have attachés who would assist them not only in relation to translations but also in understanding the laws of the various countries.
If there is an actual problem to be met, it will be met. We will know quickly whether a problem exists; we would then fill it.