asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if, in view of the difficulties being experienced at present by the pig industry, he will review the IDA's grant aid policy towards pig processing units where imports and smuggled pigs are being used for processing purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers . - Pig Industry .
719.
: Any grants approved by the IDA would be related to pigmeat processing. The question of ensuring availability of supplies of pigs for such processing would be a matter for the individual processing factories concerned. Neither the IDA nor my Department have any function in regard to pig supplies.
While again, the import of pigs is not a matter in relation to which I have a direct function, a fundamental provision of the Treaty of Rome allows the free movement of goods within the EEC so long as no animal health risks are involved and subject to normal control.
Smuggling is a matter for the customs authorities and if the Deputy is aware of breaches of the law in this regard he should furnish any information which he has on the matter to my colleague, the Minister for Finance.