(Limerick West) asked the Taoiseach the reason he refused to invite representatives of the General Council of Committees of Agriculture to the two day conference on agriculture held in Dublin on 20 and 21 November 1986.
Written Answers. - Conference on Agriculture.
32.
The seminar on agricultural policy held on 20-21 November was attended by representatives of farming and agri-business, finance institutions, State bodies, members of Government, Opposition political parties and officials of Government departments.
In view of the fact that numbers had to be limited, that it was necessary to ensure that specialist functions, both agricultural and industrial, were represented and that an overall balance be obtained between the various interests involved it was inevitable that some organisations had to be left out. If all those who wished to attend the policy seminar had been invited the numbers could well have been doubled thereby defeating the whole purpose of the exercise involved.