(Limerick West), Mr. H. Byrne and Mr. Kitt asked the Minister for Agriculture the proposals he has for the prevention of cheap fillers such as tapioca, for animal feed being imported from non-EEC countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Animal Feed Imports.
13.
Mr. Noonan
Imports of the main cereal substitutes from third countries are governed by EEC rules and arrangements including agreements negotiated by the Community with the supplying countries. The import duties on the main substitutes are bound by the Community under the GATT.
Because of the effect of the substitutes on the market for Community grain, the Community has negotiated voluntary restraint agreements with the main supplying countries. Within the limits imposed by these agreements, it is a matter for traders throughout the EEC to decide on the quantities of substitutes which they import and I am not empowered to impose additional unilateral restrictions.
Are we to understand from the reply that it is the intention of the Minister not to do anything to protect barley growers?
I do not know how the Deputy can interpret my reply in that way. There have been restrictions on the amounts of the concentrates being imported from third countries. I might point out also that the total amount of cereal substitutes imported into the Community annually is 16.5 million tonnes. We import a reasonable proportion of that total—600,000 tonnes. As a result of talks which the EEC has had with third countries supplying these concentrates, there has been a cutback on the amount of the imports into the EEC. We are pressing for further restrictions on these imports and we made that point at the recent negotiations in Brussels.
I am interested in the quantity of imports to this country. The Minister tells us that our annual importation in respect of these substitutes is 600,000 tonnes but is it his intention to ensure that this figure will be decreased as a result of the EEC cutbacks and, if so, what will be the level of the decrease?
We are not one of the offenders in that regard. We are one of the objecters to the amounts being imported but there will not be a reduction in our total imports of these substitutes.
Is it the intention of the Minister to do anything to protect the barley grower whose margins are very limited?
Part of our problem is that supplementaries are far too long.
The Deputy's question is a repeat of the second last supplementary.
If the Minister answered the questions I would not have to ask them a second time. Will the Minister accept that the margins are lower because of the importation of cheaper substitutes?
I am calling the next question.
The Minister has not answered my question.
The Chair is not responsible for that.
I said that we are opposing the importation of these concentrates.
The Minister does not understand what we are talking about.
I understand very well.
Mr. Leonard
In view of the fears that have been expressed about the quality of these cheaper fillers, is the Minister satisfied that there is sufficient control in this area, that there is monitoring of the quality of these imports?
That is very much a separate question.
Mr. Leonard
It is related to the main question.
It is one of the most important issues in the Community.
I am calling Deputy Treacy who has been indicating that he wishes to speak. If Deputies do not wish to speak they should not indicate otherwise to the Chair. Also, one Deputy should not sponsor another.
(Limerick West): The Minister should answer the questions.
I understand that nine million tonnes of tapioca is imported into the Community and that the major proportion of this is used by the Dutch industry. We are competing side by side as a livestock nation with the Dutch but we are to be put at a disadvantage——
We are having speeches on every supplementary.
The point is that we will be at a disadvantage vis-à-vis our competitors in a free market situation.
Surely the Deputy is not pretending that is a question. I am calling Question No. 14.
Can the Minister give the total value of these imports?
I do not have details of the cost.