asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement on the increase in imports of dairy products and eggs from £214,000 in January/February 1974 to £2,486,000 in January/February 1975; and the products concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dairy Products Imports.
27.
The recorded increase in the value of imports is attributable to the following exceptional circumstances:—
In the dairy sector a quantity of skim milk powder valued at £1.6m exported to the USA during 1974 under a quota system had to be returned to this country as the quota had been filled by the time of its arrival. Its re-import took place in February 1975 and it was subsequently exported to another destination. In addition, due to a transport strike in Northern Ireland in the early part of this year a certain quantity of milk was diverted to creameries here.
In the egg sector the increase was due to resumption of imports from Northern Ireland which had been prohibited from November 1973 to November 1974 because of outbreaks of Newcastle disease.
28.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his attention has been drawn to the importation of butter from Northern Ireland into the Republic; and if he will make a statement on the consequences of this importation for the Irish dairy industry.
I am aware of reports that sizeable quantities of butter are being imported to this country from Northern Ireland. Home-produced butter which may be displaced by these importations can however be readily disposed of on the export market at prices which are no less favourable.