asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will give details of aids available to this country for bovine disease eradication.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bovine Disease Eradication.
9.
I presume the Deputy is referring to financial aids. As of now, no such aids for bovine disease eradication are available to this country from outside sources. The ECC Commission have recently drawn up proposals for a Community action aimed at the eradication of brucelosis, tuberculosis and leukosis in bovines. No decision has yet been taken by the Council of Ministers on these proposals.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that that directive is almost certain to be accepted by the Council of Ministers? Having regard to its near certainty of acceptance does he not think that it would be wise for our Minister to seek special terms for elimination of disease, for special assistance towards private storage of tuberculosis reactor meat which cannot be sold within the Community and special assistance for its export to third countries? Is he aware that it is commonly believed that this aid will be forthcoming as well as the 40 and 80 units of account per animal that will be available for direct payment to owners of reactors?
As I indicated in the reply, the Commission recently drew up proposals for Community action aimed at the eradication of the three diseases I mentioned. No decision has been taken by the Council of Ministers on these proposals. The proposals are with the Council of Ministers and the Deputy and the House can take it that the Irish Minister will endeavour to get the best terms possible for the Irish people, and particularly the Irish farming community.
I asked specifically about the desirability of applying for grants for private storage for tuberculosis reactor meat. Could the Parliamentary Secretary tell us whether this application will be made?
No such aids are available at present.
They are. There are very substantial grants.
Argument is not in order. Question No. 10.
What the Parliamentary Secretary said is not correct. Will he apply for these facilities for Irish tuberculosis reactor meat?
There is no further information arising out of Question No. 9. I have given all the relevant information. I have answered the question set down on the Order Paper. If the Deputy wants to put down another question relevant to the matters he is raising——
On a point of order——
Order. I have asked for brevity in respect of questions from both sides.
May I make a point of order? I want your guidance on this matter. I put down a number of questions on today's Order Paper seeking information. The Parliamentary Secretary is making no attempt to provide that information. It is obvious that, apart from the brief the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries have prepared for him, he has not a notion of what he is talking about. I ask your guidance as to what an Opposition Deputy is to do in these circumstances.
The Chair is not involved in matters of that kind. I have no control over those matters.
I resent the Deputy's assertion that I have no notion of what I am talking about.
On a point of order——
Let us desist from raising points of order especially if they happen to be spurious points of order. That is a waste of precious time.
We were told by the Parliamentary Secretary that there was no further information in regard to Question No. 9. How can he prejudge our supplementary questions?
That is not a point of order.
The Council of Ministers have not reached a decision. It is for them to reach a decision.
Question No. 10.
What proposals has the Minister put to the EEC Commission?