asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has made representations to the European Commission for special aids for private storage of tuberculosis reactor meat.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reactor Meat.
10.
I have not made representations to the European Commission for such aids.
Could I ask this question as a supplementary to the previous question?
Question No. 10 is being dealt with now.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell us what proposals he has put to the Council of Ministers? That is what we are anxious to know.
I was asked a specific question about special aids for private storage of tuberculosis reactor meat. I have replied to the question.
The Parliamentary Secretary does not know anything else.
We have not made representations for aids for storage.
Question No. 11.
We do not want to highlight our reactor position. If Deputies want to do so, that is their business.
Is that not your own fault? For two years the Department had a row with the vets.
It is not the Department's fault. Neither is it the Government's fault. We are doing as good a job as possible in the face of difficulties and obstacles.
You are not doing anything.
Order. Questions are becoming erratic.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the serious problem which will face the industry in regard to storage. The expectation is that there will be many TB carcases which will have to be disposed of in countries outside the EEC. Will he agree that storage will be required for those carcases?
No. Neither do I agree——
What will you do with them?
——that it would be desirable to provide storage for reactor meat here. I do not think it would be advisable. Everybody knows the market for reactor meat is limited.
Since the Parliamentary Secretary does not think it advisable that reactor meat should be put in storage, may I inquire what will we do with it?
The same as what happened down through the years.
You cannot. There is an EEC regulation.
Question No. 11.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that some factories are quoting 10p per lb less for TB reactor cattle?
Order. Next question.
11.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the animal health status of EEC imports of meat from countries covered by the Lomé convention; if they are certified as disease free; and, if not, if he will state why exports to the EEC of Irish reactor meat is banned by the Community.
Until a decision of the Council of Ministers of the EEC is reached on the list of third countries from which meat may be imported to the Community——
I have not heard the beginning of the reply and it is impossible——
Order. I appeal to Deputies for co-operation during Question Time.
Be fair.
Is Deputy Gibbons suggesting he cannot hear the Parliamentary Secretary?
It is impossible to make sense of what the Parliamentary Secretary is saying as I did not hear the beginning of the reply. Would he be good enough to begin again?
Until a decision of the Council of Ministers of the EEC is reached on the list of third countries from which meat may be imported to the Community, under Directive 72/462/EEC, all imports of meat from places outside the Community are subject to the same animal health and public health requirements as are provided in the directives relating to intra-Community trade in fresh meat. When the list of third countries has been established requirements no less strict will apply. It is fundamental that imports from a third country cannot receive more favourable treatment in any member country than imports from another member country.
As regards the final part of the Deputy's question, the EEC Directive 64/433 provides that animals may not be slaughtered for intra-Community trade in fresh meat in which any form of tuberculosis has been found or which react positively to tuberculin and are thus found to be suffering from tuberculosis.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary inform the House of the nature of the veterinary standards in such countries as Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania and Madagascar?
If the Deputy puts down a question——
It is down already.
It is not.
I want to call the attention of the House to the fact that the question refers to the countries covered by the Lomé convention. The countries I mentioned are covered by that convention. Therefore, it is perfectly reasonable to ask what are the veterinary standards in those countries and how are they supervised since our meat is to be kept out and theirs is to be let in?
I have given the Deputy the information.
The Parliamentary Secretary has not got a clue. He is a disgrace. It is ridiculous.
Question No. 12.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary tell us——
Would Deputy Crinion please obey the Chair?
You allowed only one supplementary.
I have called the next question and that is that. Deputy Crinion will have to learn to obey the Chair. Question No. 12, please.