asked the Minister for Agriculture when he expects a decision to be made on the common organisation of the market for potatoes.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Potato Market .
25.
: The Council of Ministers recently agreed to take an early decision on the establishment of a market organisation for potatoes. I cannot, of course, as the Deputy will appreciate, give a precise indication as to when this decision will be taken.
: Would the Minister tell the House whether any member state is pressing for a common organisation of the market or whether any member state is opposing it?
: The Commission hope to introduce their proposals and as the Deputy will know it is the Commission that initiate policy decisions of that kind and such an organisation of the potato market is being presented at the Council of Ministers at an early date. I cannot say precisely when but at the last meeting of the Council of Ministers in Brussels this matter was mentioned. It may come up at the next Council meeting which will take place in a week or so.
: The Minister is aware that it has been going on for years.
: Would the Minister favour a limited system of intervention being incorporated in the common policy?
: This is speculation and it is not strictly permissible at Question Time but I do not think there is any prospect of intervention in the sense that the Deputy seems to mean it. There may be provisions for denaturing potatoes in certain circumstances of over-supply, but intervention of a commodity such as potatoes is most unlikely.