(Limerick West): asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will indicate precisely how the recently concluded European common measures for cereals will be implemented in this country.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - EC Cereal Measures.
53.
The measures in relation to cereals decided upon at the meeting of the Council of Ministers in Luxembourg in April fall under four headings — price reductions, quality criteria, delayed access to intervention and a co-responsibility levy.
The price reductions decided upon by the Council will be applied to cereals offered to intervention.
As regards quality, the price for cereals offered to intervention will be based on criteria laid down by the Council of Ministers.
Intervention will operate from September to April inclusive. A decision has not yet been made by the Community on the arrangements for paying for cereals taken into intervention.
A co-responsibility levy of 3 per cent will apply from 1 July next in respect of cereals processed, taken into intervention or exported to third countries. There will also be a scheme of aid for small cereal producers. Detailed rules for the implementation of these measures have still to be finalised by the Council and the Commission.
(Limerick West): Since it is now late in the growing season and cereal producers and traders cannot plan ahead without exact information on EC rules, would the Minister make an immediate approach to the EC to have the proposed changes suspended. At least for this year?
I would be delighted if that could be the case. I would not be averse to making that suggestion, particularly as a lot of cereals produced within the Community will be ready for harvesting in three or four weeks' time, particularly in Spain, Portugal, Greece and even the south of Italy. If the Commission's proposals do not come into being within the next few weeks, it may well be that the regime may not penalise everybody equally and that some of these countries could evade it.
(Limerick West): Would the Minister make the approach?
Certainly. I do not see why anybody should be exempted if everybody is not exempted.
(Limerick West): What can the Minister now suggest to producers and traders in view of the lack of information and also in view of his reluctance to have this decision suspended? What advice can he offer?
What decision?
(Limerick West): I am referring to the Minister's reluctance to have an approach made to the EC with a view to having these measures suspended at least for this year. What advice can the Minister offer to producers and traders?
I did not indicate any reluctance to have these measures suspended. I said that if anybody is to get an exemption everybody should get an exemption.
(Limerick West): I am asking what advice the Minister can offer to producers and traders in view of the lack of decision by the EC.
I would not like to build up hopes that there will be complete exemption, but nevertheless if some people are to be exempted everybody should be considered for it. The only detailed matter outstanding is the payment for grain going into intervention in September. We are not sure exactly what the delay in payment will be since it has not yet been indicated.
(Limerick West): Surely the farmers are entitled to guidelines as to what the position will be. What advice can the Minister offer to producers at this stage? The growing season will not wait for the Minister and the Commission to make up their minds.
We know exactly the level of the reduction in price at 5 per cent. We also know the bonuses and penalties which will relate to moisture content. We have a fairly accurate picture of the co-responsibility levy. The only outstanding issue is the delay in payment for products going into intervention. I hope that will be clarified within the next week or two.