asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the circumstances in which a report was circulated by his Department to the effect that intervention beef would be released to hospitals and charitable institutions at 12 per cent below the intervention price, in view of the fact that no decision has yet been taken by the EEC; when he expects such a decision, if any, to be taken; and the approximate proportion of the intervention beef in cold storage which he expects to be affected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Intervention Beef.
19.
My Department circulated no such report.
On 9th May the Department issued an announcement about the commercial sale of intervention beef at prices determined by the EEC Commission as owner of the beef. This was misinterpreted in certain sections of the Press as relating to the sale of such beef at reduced prices to non-profit making institutions for social purposes, although the announcement drew attention to the previous tendering system for such commercial sales. These Press misinterpretations were pointed out in a further announcement by my Department on 13th May.
The question of the sale of intervention beef at reduced prices for social purposes is still under consideration by the EEC Commission but I expect a decision will be taken thereon very shortly.
Can the Minister give any information as to when a definite decision will be made and can he state whether he has had any recent comments from Mr. Lardinois in relation to this matter?
There are some difficulties about the arrangements for the implementation of the idea of selling this beef in this way, but I would imagine that a definite decision will be given within a few weeks.
There is no prospect that any of this beef could be sold to Irish housewives who cannot purchase beef for their families at the moment because of the extraordinary high price.
That is not the intention.
This would be interfering with the prices of a profit-making institution.
Could the Minister give us any idea as to whether the mistaken impression by the Press was as a result of misinformation supplied to it verbally by the Government Informatiton Service as part of the normal run of supplying good news?
I have a copy of the Press release from the Department of Agriculture here and it could not, in fact, be clearer. It did not leave any scope for misunderstanding. I am quite surprised anybody could verbally give out information.
Is the Minister aware that, in addition to the official Press release, there is also a verbal communiqué?
Sources close to the Government that we hear so much about.
Sources close to the Government do not come into the picture nearly so often now.
They are getting more removed from the Government now.
20.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether he has given approval to any private companies to apply for grants from the Industrial Development Authority to enable them to construct additional storage premises for intervention beef; and, if so, if he will indicate the names of such companies, the amount of the grant applied for in each case, the amount of the storage capacity mentioned and details of the scrutiny procedures conducted by his Department in vetting such applications.
My Department made representations to the Industrial Development Authority with a view to facilitating the provision of extra cold storage by commercial interests, with particular reference to the requirements of such storage for intervention beef. The authority agreed to make grants available in that connection within an overall total of 5,000 tons extra storage and 15 extra blast-freezing tunnels. My Department conveyed this information at a meeting with representatives of the public cold storage companies concerned, who were advised to make their applications direct to the Industrial Development Authority. The consideration of applications so made is a matter primarily for the Industrial Development Authority whom my Department are prepared to assist in any way requested. My Department are not involved directly with the individual applicants.
Having regard to the fact that the Industrial Development Authority is not under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture, is there any way by which the Minister could make available the names of such companies? There is a substantial sum of public money involved and it has been the practice to release information about grants available from the IDA by the Minister for Industry and Commerce. In view of the fact that this information is of vital concern, having regard to the circumstances, would the Minister undertake to have the names of these companies made available to the House?
No company has yet got any money. The IDA to my knowledge never releases names. The only information they ever give is in the annual report.
When the grants have been approved and, since the IDA have indicated numerous sources through which they have made money available, will the Minister be prepared to ask the IDA to make the identity of the companies concerned known to the Government?
My answer to that is: "No, I will not" because it would be wrong to depart in specific instances from the normal practice of publishing this sort of information in the annual report.
May I take it then from the Minister that this information will most certainly be published in the next annual report?
It is always published.
Could the Minister not even give the House now the names of the public storage companies referred to?
Of course not; this is a purely private matter.
But these people have been given information by the Department and surely the House is entitled to know who they are.
My Department is approached for advice only when there is an agricultural content in the matter with the IDA to find out whether or not it is sound; that goes back to the IDA and they make up their own minds.
The Minister must be hiding something.
21.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will give details of the additional charges incurred in respect of intervention beef which are at present under discussion with the EEC Commission, as distinct from the difference between the purchase and resale price of beef made by the intervention agency and certain handling and storage charges which are automatically recoverable under EEC regulations.
The additional charges refer to the cost of moving our beef from approved Irish intervention stores to approved intervention stores elsewhere in the Community, in view of the limited storage available here. The cost involved so far is about £400,000.
Did the Minister say £400,000?
Yes.
Can the Minister say who will foot the bill? Is it the EEC?
This is a matter that is under consideration. Before moving the beef to the Continent the EEC were made aware of our difficulties and the fact that we had to do this.
The Minister does agree that, from his statement, this does not portray a very high standard of intelligence on the part of those responsible in Brussels. Does he seriously consider that the meat concerned should be exported from this country, put into storage and then brought back again to be sold here at a reduced rate?
This is not so. It ceases to be our property once it goes into intervention. It becomes the property of the EEC and it is their responsibility to dispose of it at whatever price they can get.