asked the Minister for Agriculture the amount spent on imports of vegetables in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980; and the action the Government intends to take to protect Irish growers of vegetables.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vegetable Imports.
32.
The value of imports of fresh and processed vegetables, including potatoes, insofar as information is available, was as follows:—
|
£million |
|
|
1977 |
13.8 |
|
1978 |
21.1 |
|
1979 |
26.1 |
|
1980 |
37.3 |
Under EEC rules it is not permissible to place any restriction on imports of fresh or processed vegetables from other member states. Apart from potatoes, for which there is as yet no common organisation of the market, imports of vegetables from third countries are also subject to Community rules and restrictive action can only be taken by the European Commission. Such action would be taken only if it could be proved that imports were causing a serious distortion of the market. In the case of potatoes, I made an order dated 6 March 1981 entitled the Potatoes (Regulation of Import) Order, 1981, which enables me to exercise a quantitative control on imports from non-EEC countries.
Would the Minister inform us what steps he has taken about the licensing of potatoes coming via London from Cyprus and if any applications have been made for licences from such places?
I am not aware that there have been any licences issued. I know that in relation to Donegal there have been imports of about 60 tonnes a week from the North of Ireland. However, they are mainly for varieties of potato which are not available in Donegal and which are necessary for the new plant for frozen chips.
Is the Minister aware of the huge quantity of potatoes which came from Cyprus into this country in 1980 via London? It is my understanding that the same situation may arise this year that destroyed the market for our potato growers for the 1980 season? What steps have been taken to ensure that this will not happen in 1981?
I am sorry. I may have misunderstood the Deputy's earlier question. The order which the Minister has introduced under the title Potatoes (Regulation of Imports) Order is there in order to ensure that the imports from Cyprus of the kind to which the Deputy refers and which affected the market last year will be prevented from being brought in this year.
Is the Minister satisfied that there is no dumping of vegetables into the country?
That is a much wider question and one which was not entailed in the original. However, there has been some dumping and this affected the Deputy's area. However, we have set up a special horticultural committee in the Department in order to ascertain to what extent we can ensure that there would not be a repeat of this situation. The dumping is not of a significant nature and it was mainly in respect of areas in which we do not have consistent supplies ourselves. Nevertheless, it is a matter to which we must be alert all the time.
What are the varieties that the Minister has in mind in talking of the lack of consistency of supplies?
The Deputy is perhaps very familiar with the situation and, I would not wish to enlighten him more than is necessary; but in the case of onions, for instance, we produce only about one-third of out total requirements. There is the off-season period in respect of tomatoes and there are other areas in which we are not self-sufficient either. That is a situation that cannot be changed overnight.
The remaining questions will appear on the Order Paper for Tuesday next.
Is the Chair sure of that because we have reason to believe otherwise?