asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has received the report of the Joint Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Communities on the proposed EEC measures on classical swine fever; if so, if the measures provide adequate protection for Ireland, and if not, the action he will take on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Classical Swine Fever.
1.
The European Commission's proposed measures on the control of swine fever are still at the discussion stage in Brussels and our representatives in these discussions have already made it very clear that the present draft proposals fall short of what we would regard as adequate. Other member states also have some reservations about them.
Unless these proposed measures are so modified as to provide adequate protection for our pig health status, I shall be obliged to oppose their adoption when they come before the Council for decision.
Would the Minister say precisely what aspects of the draft directive are unacceptable to him?
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Secondary Legislation reported, in accordance with the statement that was submitted to them by the Department of Agriculture, on the inadequacies of the measures. As the Deputy knows, we are free from classical swine fever. Two other countries are also free and we wish to maintain our position. Other countries are not so free and we want to make sure that the directive is in full accord with our present status and that we can maintain freedom from classical swine fever.
Is the Minister's position that nothing less than an absolute ban on the inward movement of live animals from countries which have classical swine fever would be acceptable?
The Minister will have a strong position on that. I do not intend to buy a pig in a poke on that one. As we are totally free from it now, the Minister would wish to maintain that position.
Would the Minister not consider, seeing that he has obviously made his position known to his colleagues in the EEC, making his position known in this House beyond the generality which the Minister for Education has so far unveiled to us?
There is no generality about the position which states we are totally dedicated to the preservation of this country's pig population free from classical swine fever.
The Minister has told us——
The Deputy will know that representing a constituency where the industry is so important, I have a special interest in it.