I propose to take Questions Nos. 461 to 464, inclusive, together.
The Government's decisions on the future of the Pigs and Bacon Commission were outlined in a press release issued on 30 March. These decisions had been arrived at after full consultation by me with the Irish Bacon Curers' Society, Irish Farmers' Association and the Pigs and Bacon Commission.
They provided for the taking over by the State of responsibility for a deficit of the Pigs and Bacon Commission (PBC) then amounting to £5.6 million, as well as the cost of some redundant staff and certain pension rights of a number of retired staff of the commission. The need for a restructuring of the present organisation arose from decisions of the European Court and the Irish Supreme Court which resulted in the PBC being no longer in a position to derive income from compulsory levies on bacon factories. Since 5 April all costs arising are the responsibility of the industry.
Discussions now taking place between the various interests concerned in the industry are directed primarily at establishing a new organisational structure which will replace the present PBC and enable the industry to continue centralised exporting arrangements under the control of and fully financed by the industry itself. These discussions will take full account of staff interests including their future employment but until the discussions have been concluded it is not possible to be more specific.