asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will arrange to set up a potato, onion and vegetable marketing board as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
11.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Fruit and Vegetable Marketing Board.
10.
Mr. Leonard
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will, in view of the unsatisfactory situation which exists in respect of the production and marketing of fruit and vegetables for both the home and export market, set up a fruit and vegetable marketing board without delay.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.
Improvement of the marketing arrangements for fruit, vegetables and potatoes is primarily a matter for the industry itself. I am pleased to note that a number of initiatives are currently being taken in this direction. Financial aid is available for setting up producer groups in the fruit and vegetable sector and aid is also being provided towards the cost of a post of market co-ordinator for glasshouse crops.
A recent proposal submitted by the Irish Farmers' Association to my Department about the setting up of a marketing organisation for potatoes is at present under examination.
Mr. Leonard
I asked if the Minister would set up a marketing board without delay as the future of the industry depends on it. Is the Minister aware that in 1982 there was a 20 per cent increase in imports? We are now importing approximately £100 million worth of fruit and vegetables, much of which could be produced here. There were 242 tons of lettuce and 2,250 tons of cauliflower imported last year. One would only have to visit the Dáil restaurant to see potatoes visually of good quality and possible to eat, but imported. Not alone should the Minister set up such a board, but introduce standards in respect of such vegetables so that the buyers would recognise that they were well represented and of much better quality than the imports.
I agree that such importation is a scandal and share the Deputy's views on this. Various Ministers over the years have considered the possibility of setting up marketing boards. The Deputy is probably aware that a marketing board would require legislation and it is my information that such a board would be very expensive to run and would be in conflict with EEC regulations. However, the initiative has been taken as far as potatoes are concerned in that the IFA have come forward with a proposal which would not involve a marketing board, but something in the shape of a national co-operative. Part of the problem with potatoes is the obtaining of uniformity of quality and continuity of supply, but these are being tackled fairly realistically. It is hoped that this co-operative would be put in motion fairly quickly and that would take care of the problems concerning potato imports.
The Minister has already referred to a committee which will have their second meeting tomorrow. This committee have been asked, as a matter of urgency, for suggestions with regard to other horticultural products.
Mr. Leonard
Could the Minister not arrange for the Irish Potato Marketing Board to function for a few months each year with regard to exports alone, so that we would not import, as last year, 74,000 tonnes?
What the IFA have suggested is a better idea in so far as it is much more comprehensive and should take care of many of the problems.
Would it be possible to have the marketing structure which the Minister has in mind in operation in time to supervise the disposal of the 1983 potato crop?
With a certain amount of goodwill all around, it would be possible. No legislation is needed for a co-operative.
(Limerick West): I welcome the positive approach of the Minister with regard to a marketing board. Has any other positive move been made in the Department with regard to the whole aspect of marketing of vegetables and, in particular, of presentation, even for the home market?
This message was spelt out quite recently by the supermarket people in the seminar held at the Green Isle Hotel. They said that visual presentation accounts for 80 per cent of the purchases by the housewife. We are very conscious of this fact and one of the terms of reference of the horticulture group would be to see how best to present our produce. Because a lot of these crops are seasonal, we must take the matter a stage further and look at controlled preservation of what we would normally call fresh produce.
The Minister has referred to supermarkets.
I have been very generous, but I will allow one short question.
Could he give us an indication of what percentage of food produce available in the supermarkets is imported?
That is a totally different question. It is statistical. It would be for the attention of the Taoiseach's Department.