asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the present position of the EEC Commission proposal C. 22. 6. 3. 1972 on the price fixation of certain agricultural products and the grant of aids to the income of certain farmers; its main provisions and their implications for Ireland; and the consultations entered into by his Department in relation to this proposal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Agricultural Proposals.
134.
Decisions on most of the proposals referred to were taken at a meeting of the Council of Ministers, which ended on 24th March last, and these were the subject of consultations with the acceding member states on 28th and 29th March.
As regards the fixing of certain agricultural prices I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a question on this subject on 13th April last.
The proposal for the grant of aids to the income of certain farmers was of potential value from our point of view but it was referred back by the Council to the Commission for further study.
Would the Minister agree that a view has been expressed that the proposal to introduce income aids to other than developmental farmers has been seen by some as setting a precedent whereby support of farm incomes through good prices would be replaced by support of farm incomes through what would amount to doles?
I think the proposal the Deputy is referring to——
It was considered as just a chink through which ultimately this principle could be put into effect.
No. I think what is contemplated in the scheme which would give pensions to farmers who would go out of farming at the age of 45 and thereafter at 55 is aimed at the procurement of their land for use by developing farmers, with the agreement, of course, of the landowner. There is nothing compulsory or obligatory implied in the arrangement at all. It is a means by which, let us say, an elderly farmer who is not really able to work his land efficiently any more can be induced to allow the use of his land by somebody else by offering him the attraction of a pension.
135.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries by whom the compensatory amounts to be paid on exports of Irish agricultural produce to other EEC countries will be fixed; the criteria to be used in fixing them; and the products for which compensatory amounts or the basis of their calculation have already been fixed.
Compensatory amounts on exports of Irish agricultural produce to other member states will be fixed by the Council of Ministers in accordance with the provisions of Chapters 1, 2 and 3 of Title II of Part IV of the Accession Treaty. Following consultation with the acceding states compensatory amounts have already been agreed for the basic cereals: wheat, oats, maize, rye, barley, millet and sorghum. Work on the other products concerned is in progress.
Could the Minister say if the compensatory amounts that have been fixed in relation to these cereals will be reconsidered before we reach the start of our cereal operation in the EEC on 1st February or are the amounts indicated by his Department now as the compensatory amounts the fixed amounts which shall not be interfered with?
Yes, until they are reviewed again.
Does the Minister advert to the fact that there is a provision whereby such a compensatory amount may not exceed the common external tariff from outside the EEC countries for the same commodity?
In the case of?
In the case of wheat, maize, millet—as you like.
I do not quite understand the Deputy.
If the common external tariff on one of these cereal products from outside the Community were less than the compensatory amounts fixed as between states within the Community for goods of origin within that Community moving from one state to the other, does the Minister agree that in that event the compensatory amount cannot be larger than the common external tariff for the same type of material?
No, unless I misunderstand the Deputy.
Does the Minister think that is not so?
Both the external and the compensatory levy will be related to the intervention price within the Community and derive from it.
If a common external tariff on one of these cereals was, let us say, £10 and the compensatory tariff for the same cereals moving from one EEC country to another after 1st February next was £11.44, does that compensate the amount dropped to £10?
Let us say the common Community price is £100 and the Irish price is £90, then the compensatory amount is naturally £10. In the case of third countries, if the world price is £70, then it would be £30 related to the common Community price of £100.
Then it does not apply.
No.
136.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that the EEC Commission is preparing proposals which would govern the activities of national promotional organisations of farm products; the present stage of these proposals; and the action taken by the Government in regard to them.
The proposals in regard to aids in the agricultural sector for publicity, participation in fairs and exhibitions, et cetera, which the Commission intends to put forward, are still in course of preparation.
In its examination of these and other aids to agriculture the Commission is being assisted by a working group of representatives of member states. We have recently been invited to send observers to meetings of this group and we will, of course, participate as full members from 1st January next.
Would the Minister tell me if the board intent of these proposals is to assist promotional activities or to restrict them?
I think it is really to introduce a note of uniformity within the Community of the practices adopted by the particular countries. Obviously it would be desirable for us to pursue a vigorous promotion policy in the matter of the sale of food products and I do not see anything arising from this proposal which would prevent us from doing that.
Is the Minister sure? Could the Minister tell me what sort of thing the proposal contains? Would the Minister not agree that it is very important that the active role of CBF and other bodies in the promotion field be maintained and expanded here and any proposal that might restrict this development would be to the detriment of the country as an agricultural exporter?
It will, I think, be necessary in future to have a very vigorous promotion board for Irish cattle and beef and I do not think there will be any obstacle placed in our way in the maintenance of this promotion.
Could the Minister supply a copy of this proposal to us so that we can see for ourselves?
I will find out if that can be done and, if it can be done, I will supply a copy.
137.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the broad provisions and the implications for Ireland of EEC Commission proposals C. 13, 10. 2. 1972 and C. 13, 10. 2. 1972 respectively amending and supplementing the Common Market organisation in the sugar sector; the present status of the proposals; and the action taken by the Government in relation to them.
The first mentioned proposal provides for the application of the import levy on white sugar to imports of molasses with a high sugar content, the purpose being to protect the Community sugar market from being disrupted by imports of such molasses on which there is a low rate of levy. We have been consulted by the Community about the proposal but no decision has yet been taken on it by the Council of Ministers.
The second proposal, which was intended to provide for continuing donations of surplus Community sugar as food aid, has not been proceeded with. Instead the Council authorised a specific donation of sugar.
Could the Minister advise me if this proposal, the one being proceeded with, will in any way interfere with the price of molasses to farmers?
No. As I understand it, the type of molasses is molasses with a very high sugar content and this type of molasses does not ever go out to animal feeding, as far as I am aware, because it is very, very easy indeed to extract the sugar from such molasses. In fact, in the actual processing of beet sugar this is precisely what happens.
138.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the broad provisions and the implications for Ireland of EEC Commission proposal C. 127, 28. 12. 1971 concerning the advance fixing of a levy in the beef and veal sector; the present status of this proposal; and the action taken by the Government in relation to it.
The proposal referred to was adopted by the EEC Council as Regulation 2838/71/EEC with effect from 1st January, 1972.
The regulation provides that in the case of imports from distant countries the levy may be fixed in advance by agreement with the EEC, to overcome the uncertainty at date of shipment as to the levy that would be operative on the date of arrival.
Could the Minister tell me if this proposal will assist beef imports to the Community from places such as the Argentine and if that would be in the interests of the Irish farmer?
To a limited extent but, on the other hand, if there is to be trade between the EEC and the Argentine, it would be put on a reasonable basis. The regulation in all the circumstances is a reasonable one and I do not think it will militate to any serious extent against our exports.
139.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the main provisions and implications for Ireland of the draft EEC regulation C. 65, 19.6. 1972 on the financing of the common agricultural policy; and if the provisions have been discussed with the relevant interests in Ireland.
The draft regulation referred to related to an extension of the period during which Community subsidies may be paid on certain exports of feed grains to Italy from the five other member states. The purpose is to enable feed grains from these states to compete on the Italian market with feed grains from third countries which Italy imports at a reduced rate of levy under a special temporary derogation.
The regulation was made by the Council of Ministers on 20th July and it expires before the date of our accession to the Community.
Would the Minister agree that this temporary derogation which the Italians have almost succeeded in making into a permanent derogation is militating against Irish farmers in that it gives the Italian beef producer an unfair advantage over farmers in the rest of the Community, including Ireland?
If one took some of the facts in isolation, then it would appear to be unfair in that the procedure in Italy is to import cattle from Eastern Europe especially and their subsequent feeding on grain. Now if this practice, which will terminate before our entry on 1st February next, can be shown to militate against our interests, naturally we will take it up with the Commission.
Will it definitely terminate on 1st February next?
The time of its duration will run out before then. I presume the Italian Minister will be looking for its extension.
Could the Minister give me any indication as to the line he will take on this matter? Will he oppose such an extension of the Italian derogation? It is not in our interests. Indeed, I think it is against the Community spirit.
Obviously, if it is clear that it militates against our interests and the larger interests of the Community in the provision of meat for the Community itself, which is in deficient supply, we will certainly object to it on that basis.
140.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the main provisions and implications for Ireland of the draft EEC directive C. 65, 19.6. 1972 on statistical surveys of the meat trade; and if the provisions have been discussed with the relevant interests in Ireland.
Copy of this draft directive is being made available in the Oireachtas Library where it may be consulted by Deputies. It relates to the taking and processing of the annual cattle census and its implications are being examined by my Department and the Central Statistics Office.
Could the Minister tell me in what language are these copies?
I do not know.
Will the Minister assure me that they will be in either English or Irish and not in French?
If at all possible. I think Deputy Bruton, even if it were in French, would probably be able to cope.
141.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the main provisions and implications for Ireland of the draft EEC regulation C. 68, 28.6. 1972 on financial aid for the seed sector; and if the provisions have been discussed with the relevant interests in Ireland.
142.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the main provisions and implications for Ireland of EEC draft directive C. 59, 8.6. 1972 on the marketing of various seeds; and if the provisions have been discussed with the relevant interests in Ireland.
With your permission, a Cheann Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions No. 141 and No. 142 together.
The draft regulations (C. 68, 28.6. 1972) have since been adopted by the Community. They lay down general rules for the granting and financing of producer aids in the seeds sector. The fixing of such aids for grass and clover seeds during the 1972-73 marketing season which has been provided for should benefit ryegrass seed production in this country. One of the draft directives under 59, 8.6. 1972, which has since been adopted by the Community includes amendments to existing provisions for the granting of equivalence with EEC certified seed to certified seed of third country origin. The other puts forward proposals for the marketing of pre-basic seeds and in certain circumstances of seed of a lower standard than the basic directives require or of varieties which are not in the national or common catalogues and is still under EEC consideration.
The relevant interests in Ireland have been consulted.
The relevant interests have been or will have been considered?
Have been.
What relevant interests?
I presume the seed trade.
Would the Minister agree that the farming community would have an interest as purchasers of these seeds and that they would be particularly concerned about the marketing of lower standard seeds which he referred to in his reply? Could he tell me if the Irish Farmers' Association have been invited to comment having been supplied with a copy of the various documents?
I cannot tell the Deputy that, but if they wish to comment on any of these matters I should be glad to hear from them. I cannot say in this case whether they were consulted or not.
143.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the main provisions and implications for Ireland of the draft EEC regulation C. 59, 8.6. 1972 on measures to be taken in the agricultural sector following developments in the monetary situation; and if the provisions have been discussed with the relevant interests in Ireland.
This draft regulation provided for adjustments to the system of compensatory amounts introduced in May, 1971, to deal with the situation arising from the floating of a number of national currencies. The proposed adjustments assumed that certain monetary developments were about to take place but in the event these did not occur and the draft regulation has not been proceeded with.
144.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the type of capital investments which can receive grant aid from the EEC under regulation 17/64/EEC; the date from which such grant aid will be available; the condition under which it will be available; and the steps being taken by his Department to encourage early applications for such grant aid.
The types of investment projects which may receive grant aid under this regulation are projects designed to improve the structural efficiency of agricultural production and marketing in pursuance of the objectives of the Community's common agricultural policy. Certain other conditions and criteria specified in the regulation must also be satisfied. Applications for assistance from the 1973 FEOGA allocation may be submitted to the EEC Commission from 1st January, 1973, but not later than 30th June, 1973. Only projects approved by the member state and to which the state and the beneficiary are prepared to contribute will be eligible for consideration. My Department is compiling a list of projects which will be considered for submission to the Commission and has asked other Departments and agencies concerned to do likewise.
A public statement about the submission of projects was issued by my Department on the 30th October.