(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is satisfied that the Common Agricultural Policy is adequate to meet the needs of a changing agricultural industry.
17.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Common Agricultural Policy.
16.
(Limerick West): asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is satisfied that the funding of the Common Agricultural Policy is adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together.
Development of the Common Agricultural Policy is necessary to take account not only of changes in production, consumption and world market conditions for various products but also of new situations facing agriculture — for instance, in the areas of environment protection, biotechnology and the search for alternative lines of production. The European Agricultural Commission is at present preparing a document which would be the starting point for a wide debate on some of these aspects.
In any such debate it is of course important for this country, and indeed for the Community as a whole, that the principles of the Common Agricultural Policy, as well as the aims of article 39 of the Rome Treaty, should receive proper recognition. It will be my aim to ensure that such recognition continues to be given in any future adaptations to the Common Agricultural Policy and that adequate financial resources are available accordingly. In this connection it will of course be recalled that the funds available to the Community as a whole are to be increased as from January next.
(Limerick West): Is the Minister concerned with the recent decision that spending on agriculture will in future be decided by the Finance Ministers of the EC rather than by the Ministers of Agriculture?
I would not say that that is correct. The Agriculture Ministers will decide how the moneys available will be spent. We will not be confined by the dictates or otherwise of Finance Ministers. That was borne out in the recent price talks when the figure set was not the one which was finally agreed on.
Could the Minister say if he sees the Common Agricultural Policy being extended to include all aspects of agriculture?
I do not know to what the Deputy is alluding. Could he elaborate on the point?
Does the Minister see the Community coming up with a common sheep policy which will take due account of the situation within every member state?
That is referred to in a question coming up later which relates to the classification scheme. I will be dealing with that matter when we come to it. A common policy on sheep is one of the things we will be looking for. There are certain advantages for us and there are also certain pitfalls which we need to avoid.
(Limerick West): Is the Minister concerned with the resistance from the consumer with regard to spending on the agricultural policy?
Of course, I am concerned. Any politician would have to be concerned, but there is not great consumer resistance in this country.
(Limerick West): I am talking about consumer resistance in the EC.
There is in the EC generally.
(Limerick West): In the consumer lobby generally?
Yes, it is a very major problem in the industralised states, but we tend to overcome that at the price negotiations.
Could the Minister indicate to us the situation regarding the financial respect or lack of credibility or otherwise that has been imposed on this country as a result of the Minister and his Government suspending the farm modernisation scheme in 1983?
I do not see that that comes in under this question.
It is a particular argument. Question No. 18.
If the Deputy wants to hear some relevant figures I will give him some. The FEOGA receipts over the last few years are as follows. In 1982 we received £370 million from FEOGA. In 1983 that figure rose to £470 million and last year it rose to £700 million, almost a doubling in three years.
They are very big figures to trot out here in a simplistic answer to the question I asked.
Simple answers are often best.
Would the Minister accept that the grants from FEOGA were for very many wide-ranging projects in this country which had an indirect effect on agriculture but not a direct input into agriculture?
I would not agree with that.
(Limerick West): Would the Minister not agree that most of those projects were initiated prior to 1982 before his Government took office?
The vast majority of the figures refers to exports, which is an immediate thing and has happened in recent weeks. It does not go back at all.