asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will investigate the decline of the once thriving Irish meat canning industry; the considerable job losses in recent years; and the possibility of re-employment for these skilled workers.
44.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meat Canning Industry.
43.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the action being taken to eliminate the disadvantages suffered by our canned meat industry because of the operation of the Monetary Compensatory Amounts system.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 44 together.
An examination of the problems of the cooked beef industry has been carried out in consultation with representatives of the meat industry and a number of proposals aimed at solving these problems have been put to the EEC Commission. No final solution has yet been agreed upon but I am continuing to pursue the matter with the Commission.
The problems arise from the non-application of MCAs to cooked beef which puts Irish manufacturers at a disadvantage as compared with British manufacturers. The disadvantage has been reduced considerably in recent months as a result of the devaluation of the UK Green £ and the appreciation of sterling on foreign exchange markets. In the case of exports to most other countries the absence of MCAs is, of course, an advantage to Irish exporters.
I would like to point out that the problems mainly affect cooked beef products with a high meat content. In the case of products with lower beef contents there has in fact been an increase in production and exports over the past two years.
In view of the decline in the value of the púnt is the Minister pursuing his basic intention of having a revision made in the MCA arrangements?
Yes. The Deputy can be absolutely assured that there has been hardly a council meeting at which I did not either raise this during the meeting or speak to the Commissioner personally about it, as I have done many times. I am certain that we have the co-operation of Commissioner Gundelach and his goodwill in this matter. I shall be raising it again at the next council meeting on 18 June.
Is the Minister prepared to undertake to withhold his agreement to the 1979 price package until such time as this matter is resolved?
The Deputy may be assured that in my treatment of the price package of this year this matter will be a very important consideration which will be present in my mind as being of primary Irish interest. I have no intention of conceding ground easily on this matter. We must bear in mind that the greater portion of our actual exports of these products are to the United Kingdom, and while there is the absence of an MCA on these products, this is actually of assistance to exports to the other countries of the Community particularly the hard currency countries. In the light of our existing exports to the UK it is important that the position be corrected, as I am sure it can be.