With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
The main elements of the Commission's proposal are (a) annual fixing of a basic price, (b) aids for private storage of sheepmeat, (c) a levy against imports of sheepmeat from third countries equal to the difference between the free-at-frontier offer price and the basic price subject to a maximum of 20 per cent and (d) a transitional arrangement providing for compensation for producers disadvantaged by the operation of free intra-Community trade in sheep and sheepmeat. The Commission proposal was forwarded to the Council on 29 March 1978 and was published in the Official Journal No. C93/5 of 18 April 1978 a copy of which is in the Library. At its meeting last month the Council of Agricultural Ministers agreed to intensify discussions on the proposal so that decisions can be made before 31 October next. In the discussions in the Council the Irish objective is to secure the best deal possible for Irish sheep producers, but as the matter is still under negotiation I do not propose to make any further comment at this stage.