asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will introduce a fund for the promotion of agriculture and food designed to help promote exports and develop home production similar to that to be introduced in France under current agricultural law and, if so, if he will outline how the fund will operate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural and Food Products Promotion.
17.
State funds for the promotion of exports of agricultural products are already provided through Córas Tráchtála, Coras Beostoic agus Feola and an Comhairle Olla. These supplement the moneys for export promotion made available through levies on producers and from the resources of the various agricultural marketing bodies concerned. As regards home production, very considerable sums are, of course, provided annually through my Department's Vote for the development of agriculture.
As I understand it, the funds being provided under the proposed French legislation will be financed mainly by levies on producers and food processing enterprises.
Is the Minister aware of the very substantial penetration of the Irish vegetable market, in particular, by imported products? Will he take urgent steps to promote the use by the consumer of high quality Irish vegetables on the Irish market? I fear that if we do not do so, we run the risk not only of doing serious damage to our balance of payments but also of serious loss to our producers and the possible destruction of our horticultural industry?
I shall answer that along with the next question.
Is the Minister not aware that this is relevant to Question No. 17, just as it is to Question No. 18?
There is no point in repetition.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister appears to be treating the whole matter as a joke.
I certainly am not.
18.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will take steps to improve the standards and marketing of Irish food products sold on the home market in view of the increased threat to agricultural income and industrial jobs posed by food imports.
In the case of quite a number of agricultural products, quality standards are already prescribed by EEC or national regulations. These standards are enforced by my Department and I am satisfied that home-produced products comply with them. It is, of course, to the advantage of producers, processors and marketing interests to up-grade the quality and improve the marketing of their products sold on the Irish market, and my Department will give them every encouragement in their efforts to do so. Indeed, in view of the competition from imports, there has already been a growing awareness among the interests concerned of the importance of quality, packaging and marketing and increased attention is being given to these aspects.
Is the Minister aware that there is a serious and increasing problem of imports to this country of food products? Would he not agree that it might be appropriate for him to establish a fund similar to what is being done in France within the EEC rules, to promote the use of Irish food on the Irish market?
We are giving the Irish producers every encouragement.
The Minister is giving them no encouragement whatever. There is no effective promotion of Irish food on the Irish market. Would the Minister not agree that it would be very useful to follow the example given by France and promote Irish food on the Irish market?
We shall look into the matter.
Is the Minister aware that imports of food products have doubled or trebled in the last two or three years? This is a very serious situation from the point of view of our balance of payments and does not warrant the dismissive approach meted out by the Minister in answering these questions.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister is not answering.
I am certainly not dismissive. I am well aware of the amount of imports. I have not the information regarding the amount of the imports the Deputy is so concerned about. If he wishes to put down another question, I shall answer it.
In view of the very unsatisfactory and almost cavalier approach of the Minister in answering the questions, with reluctance I request the permission of the Chair to raise this matter on the Adjournment. The Minister should really treat Question Time more seriously.
I am quite serious. The Deputy is asking me for information which I do not have.
The Minister should have this information because that is what the question is about.
No, it is not.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister for the Department of Posts and Telegraphs is answering the questions.
I have specifically spelt out that, as far as the Department are concerned, we are giving every encouragement to the producers to up-grade, in packaging and so on, Irish products to a higher standard. Every encouragement is being given by the Department.
They are not very successful.
What relationship has the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs to answering questions on agriculture?
(Cavan-Monaghan): He has everything in order in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. He has nothing else to do, so he comes in to answer these questions.
There is better communication between himself and Deputy Allen than there is between telephones in County Donegal.
If the Deputy is not prepared to listen he may as well leave the House.