asked the Minister for Agriculture the progress, if any, made to date regarding the amendment of EEC Directives 159, 160 and 161 rendering them more suitable to Irish farming conditions.
Written Answers. - EEC Farm Directives.
293.
Mr. Walsh
Commission proposals for amending Directives 159, 160 and 161 are currently under consideration in the Council of Agriculture Ministers as part of a package of measures for improving agricultural structures in the Community. While the Council agreed in June last to take a decision on this package by the end of this month, it is now unlikely that this deadline can be met. Neither is it possible to say at this stage what decisions will finally be taken, but we have been impressing on the Council the need in particular for revising the general socio-structural directives so as to make them more suitable to Irish farming conditions as well as adopting further special measures to assist the West of Ireland.