asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will outline the nature of the views submitted by him to the EEC Commission on their proposal to harmonise member States' legislation on fertilisers; and if he will state the organisations in Ireland consulted by him prior to the submission of these views.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fertiliser Legislation.
158.
As this matter is under negotiation with the Community it would be inadvisable at this stage to outline the nature of the views submitted. My Department consulted the Department of Industry and Commerce who had obtained the views of the fertiliser manufacturing industry.
Can the Minister state if the fertiliser users, namely, the farmers, were consulted in relation to the Minister's views on the proposed directive?
I cannot say that.
Would the Minister not consider that they have the greatest interest of all, perhaps, in anything affecting fertilisers, since they are the people who pay for them?
I would, and I would think that at this moment and for some years past their interests have been very well protected by measures taken by the Government for the subsidisation of phosphates and potash, and lime effectively as well. The present negotiations we are talking about are of a highly technical nature concerning the determination of analysis, and description, and solubility, and reagent standards, and all that type of technical matter. I do not think it was any loss to the farming organisations, or any slight on them either, that discussions of this kind were not entered into with them.
Why should the matter be confidential? Why should they not be given an opportunity of presenting views? The Minister kept the whole thing a secret.
If the farming organisations want to discuss any aspect of the implications of our entry into the EEC under any heading, they are always welcome to do so, and I think they know that too.