asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if continental potatoes will have free entry to Ireland in the future and thereby help to (a) reduce the cost of living, (b) allow the Irish housewife access to new potatoes at an earlier date in the year, and (c) help maintain employment at Erin/Heinz factories; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imports of Potatoes.
150.
There is at present no common organisation of the market in potatoes in the EEC. Even if there were, this country's plant health requirements would be maintained and we would not accept potato imports from any country, EEC or otherwise, which could not meet them. Continental potatoes will not therefore have free entry to this country in the forseeable future. These considerations would, of course, also apply to early new potatoes and to potatoes for processing.
Normally we can produce sufficient potatoes for home consumption much more cheaply than can be done elsewhere and therefore it cannot be contended that imports from the Continent would help to reduce the cost of living —the reverse would probably be the case.
The intention in establishing processing plants for potatoes and vegetables was to provide an outlet for home grown produce and future policy in relation to imports of potatoes will be considered in this light.
The biggest factor in the increasing cost of living according to the official figures is the cost of potatoes, which are at least three times as dear as they were this time last year. Can the Minister give me any reason why he cannot import potatoes from European countries now, thereby helping to bring down the price and enable Irish housewives to get new potatoes at an earlier date?
I have, I think, answered the question fully. The Deputy must appreciate that one of the reasons why potatoes are so dear this year is the poor price last year. As a result of that poor price there was a substantial reduction in acreage with a consequent substantial reduction in yield. Because potatoes were not giving a reasonable reward to the farmers the acreage has been dropping.
Would the Minister consider a fixed price for potatoes?
That is a separate question.
The Minister might consider putting a floor under the price in order to encourage a greater acreage to be grown. I will give consideration to that.
If a floor is fixed and potatoes go well above that, will the Minister permit imports?
The whole reason for the shortage of potatoes is, as the Minister said, that there was a very bad price last year. If a floor price were put on there would be plenty of potatoes at a lower price than in any country in the world.