asked the Minister for Agriculture the estimated value of imports of (i) beef, (ii) mutton and lamb, (iii) bacon and (iv) dairy products imported into the EEC from (a) Australia and (b) New Zealand in 1981; and the plans, if any, there are to phase out these imports.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Meat and Dairy Imports.
4.
The latest information available is only for the first nine months of 1981 and, because of industrial action undertaken by civil servants in the UK in that period, does not cover imports into that country. The relevant figures expressed in millions of Irish pounds are as follows:—
|
From Australia |
From New Zealand |
|
|
Beef |
5.9 |
0.6 |
|
Mutton and Lamb |
11.8 |
37.5 |
|
Bacon |
0.3 |
0.2 |
|
Dairy products |
0.4 |
5.5 |
Apart from certain concessionary imports under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade or other Special Community arrangements, all such imports are subject to the normal Community import charges. The concessionary imports form part of special reciprocal trade arrangements negotiated between the Community and the countries concerned, either in the context of the GATT or otherwise. I can assure the Deputy that I shall continue to oppose efforts to increase such imports and that it will be my aim where possible to have such concessions phased out or substantially reduced.
Firstly, did I hear the Minister correctly, that the British figures are not included?
That is correct. Unfortunately, there has been an industrial dispute in the British civil service concerned with the collection statistics and we do not have the figures for the United Kingdom for that period, which is, of course, a very pertinent period.
I asked the question because it was pertinent.
Of course. I gathered that.
Can the Minister give the figures for 1980, seeing that the UK proportion is of tantamount importance?
I do not have these figures. The Deputy's question related to 1981, as he appreciates. I only have the figures relating to the rest of Europe. I will get the figures for the Deputy.
I appreciate the Minister's help. I would like him also to get the 1980 figures. Secondly, while an agreement was made to allow agricultural products into the EEC from Australia and New Zealand at the insistence of the United Kingdom, surely there must have been a time scale on the extent of these imports? Is there any such time scale? Are these imports going to be phased out and, if so, by what year?
They are being phased out year by year. There is an annual review and progressive or degressive reductions are made in the quota allowance year by year. There is no fixed amount but the policy is to argue it every year and the overall objective is to eliminate them entirely.
When do they finish?
There is no specific date.
Would the Minister try to get a definite date?
We have made strong representations in Brussels for having the greatest reduction possible.
In view of the fact that butter imports to the UK started at 107,000 tonnes and ten years later stand at approximately 93,000 tonnes, is this phasing out as the Minister has described it? The UK seem to renegotiate each year and get their quotas back again. There is no attempt to phase out butter imports to the UK. Would the Minister accept that?
As far as I am concerned there will be a progressive reduction, year in, year out, as long as I am there, which I hope to be for some considerable time.
What would the Minister describe as a progressive reduction? Does he not accept the figures I have given him?
I will be here to negotiate a progressive reduction.
The Minister is avoiding answering the question. He knows perfectly well there was no progressive reduction.
That is wrong, there was a progressive reduction.
Ceist 5, please.