asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the prolonged crisis in regard to cold storage facilities for intervention beef, he will now indicate to producers the likely storage position when peak supplies of beef come on the market about July next.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beef Storage Facilities.
6.
It is not practicable to forecast what freezing and storage facilities will be needed from July onwards because the needs will depend on the market situation then obtaining.
Could the Minister tell us whether or not he has any proposals to increase the country's capacity for storage?
Yes. I approached the IDA some months ago in relation to this. As the Deputy is aware, they had ceased paying grants for freezers and storage space for frozen beef, and I have asked them to resume that again. They have agreed to do so, and we would expect increased storage space by the autumn.
In view of the negotiations the Minister had yesterday, would he like to state what he thinks the position will be in the autumn?
I would hope that the measures agreed upon yesterday would substantially improve the beef market situation. I would not like to forecast that there would be no need for intervention in the autumn. We in this country will always be first into intervention. I had hoped that stronger measures would be taken against imports from third countries, but it was impossible to get agreement on a ban on imports from third countries. However, at least as a result of trying very hard on this, it was agreed that if the measures taken yesterday were not seen to be having effect, in a few weeks time the matter will be reconsidered to see if additional measures will be necessary. I do not think anybody wants to see a situation where intervention would become the rule rather than the exception.
Does the Minister not think that the situation that now obtains within the Community of the disposal of beef by the Community at reduced prices to such institutions as schools and hospitals, and re-export abroad, is totally anomalous? While we do not wish to take from the Minister's efforts on behalf of this country in Luxembourg, we would point out——
Could we have a question, Deputy? We cannot delay unduly long on any question.
——that it is anomalous for the Community to be actually subsidising the sale of intervention beef and, at the same time, permitting people like the Germans to import hundreds of thousands of tons of frozen meat into their own country and re-export their own cows into our market in Britain.
I made this case very strongly yesterday, but I think the Deputy will accept that the increase in the export refunds to third countries which is approximately £50 a ton should be a help in exporting to third countries, and the additional charge on the import of beef into the Community of £50 a ton should be a great help as well. I agree with him that these measures are not adequate, but they were certainly the most we could get agreement on.
Was it considered at all that instead of having a system of 50-50 there should be a 70-30 ratio?
When I made the suggestion first, that is about six weeks ago, I was doubtful as to whether it would be accepted at any relationship, and personally I was quite pleased that they were agreeable to have a one-for-one system, as they so describe it. I do not think we would have got more.
Could the Minister say——
The Chair has called the next question.
This is a very important one.
I appreciate that, but I have given a lot of latitude and there are quite a number of questions on the Order Paper.
Could I ask one short supplementary question? When is it likely that the Council of Ministers will be meeting again to review the situation?
I would say in three weeks or a month at the most, that is, if the measures are seen not to be effective.
The Minister will continue his efforts?
The Minister might consider exercising the veto on such a fundamental issue.