Vol. 375 No. 3
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action, if any, he is prepared to take to reduce the cheap imported feed being substituted for Irish grain; if his attention has been drawn to the effects these cheap substitutes are having on cereal growing in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
77.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason cereal farmers are paying increased levels of co-responsibility levels, while at the same time increased amounts of cereal substitutes are being imported.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 77 together.
For many years this country has been expressing concern at the extent of imports of cereal substitutes which create difficulties for cereal producers, not only in Ireland but throughout the EC.
I am glad to say that following consistent pressure in the Council of Agriculture Ministers, the Commission has recently indicated its intention to pursue the resolution of the cereal substitutes problem in the current GATT negotiations.
The cereals co-responsibility levy was introduced in July 1986 as one of the measures agreed by the Council of Agriculture Ministers to help defray the cost of supporting the Community's cereal sector.
