asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware of the damage being done to the Irish apple industry by the importation of over £2 million worth of foreign apples annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Apple Imports.
12.
The present production of apples in this country amounts to only about 35 per cent of annual needs and it is accordingly necessary to have substantial imports. Output from the home crop will increase in the coming years as recently planted orchards come into full production. Provided adequate attention is given to storage and marketing there is no reason why our growers should not obtain an increasing share of the market and a satisfactory price return.
Surely the Minister must be aware that the sale of Irish apples is being affected on the home market at present by coming into competition with imported apples? Is he aware that the Agricultural Institute have stated that the Irish apple is of better quality and is not getting a fair deal from the retailers on the home market? The sale of Irish apples is being depressed
I would like to explain to the Deputy that the national consumption of apples is about 40,000 tons per annum. The home crop in 1974 was 14,000 tons so that there is an enormous import requirement. In addition to this we had to drop our quantitative control for countries within the EEC. There are a lot of French apples coming in here. We have an MCA against those so we should be able to compete. I agree with the Deputy that the quality of our apples is better than the quality of any imported apples.
While the Minister has given me figures for the amount of apples imported and the amount of home grown apples is he aware that at present the home grown apples are meeting unfair competition from imported apples? I am not talking about the past year or the previous year. This is a matter of urgency at the present moment. If the Minister will look into it he will find that this is so.
If this is competition from countries within the Community, from France, I have told them I can do nothing about it. The MCA we were permitted to operate is being operated against French apples and we cannot stop the quantity. They can send in any quantity they like with this MCA. That is the handicap they have to come in under. Everything that it is possible to do within the law is being done.
Surely the Minister must be aware of the need to protect the home market for Irish growers and also those employed in the apple factories throughout the country? If it is not protected this industry will be severely affected. Some steps must be taken to protect this industry. This is an urgent matter. As I said, some retailers in particular and some of the outlets are giving preference to the foreign apple and pushing it over and above the home grown apple. That is the situation I asked to have remedied.
In further explanation to the Deputy the MCA that we could operate against the French apples up to December, 1975 was £35.7 and £23.8 from the 1st January to the 15th February, 1976. We cannot exceed that. They are coming in with that handicap. As long as they pay this we can do nothing to keep them out within EEC rules. As I said, our home production is a very small percentage of total consumption here and imports must be permitted. Consumption is 40,000 tons and production is 14,000 tons.