asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will outline the progress to date in regard to harmonising the EEC common policy for pigmeat with Irish conditions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Pigmeat Policy.
29.
The EEC Commission have had a number of meetings in recent months with representatives of the three acceding countries on the pigmeat arrangements to apply in the latter as from 1st February next. Apart from certain technical arrangements relating to market price reporting, no final decisions have yet been taken, the main question at issue being the fixation of compensatory amounts for trade between the member countries of the enlarged Community. This question is due to come before a meeting of the Council of Ministers for consideration next week.
Can the Minister say if the floor price for pigs settled by the Community is based on a larger size of pig than that which is common in the acceding countries and, if so, if any harmonisation is necessary in this regard?
I do not think there will be any requirements imposed. As it happens, most of the pigs produced in Ireland, Denmark and Great Britain are sold on the British market and the type of pig sold on that market is lighter and leaner than that commonly encountered in the other EEC countries. I do not believe that the Council of Ministers will ask the three acceding states to accept standards that they find acceptable on their market because the standards that are known in the three acceding states are different from those in the other countries. A couple of days ago the Council of Ministers accepted the principle that the type of butter commonly in use in Britain and Ireland which contains 2 per cent salt, which is something unheard of in the existing EEC, will be accepted as a separate type of the same commodity.
Will the intervention agencies be operated on a different basis in Britain than on the Continent?
The relativities in regard to starting intervention prices as between ourselves and Great Britain is a matter that is coming up for discussion at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers. Therefore, it would be incorrect to discuss the question in any detail at this stage because it would be prejudicial to our country achieving the best possible arrangements.
The remaining questions will be treated by way of written answers unless any Deputy wishes to postpone a question until the next session.