Austin Deasy
Question:13 Mr. Deasy asked the Taoiseach the volume and value of beef imports into the EC in 1990.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Beef and Milk Imports.
Austin Deasy
Question:14 Mr. Deasy asked the Taoiseach the volume and value of milk product imports into the European Community in 1990.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together. The available data relates to the period January to September 1990, which is the latest period for which such data has been published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities. Imports of beef into the European Community amounted to 137,545 tonnes with a value of 526 million ECU and imports of milk products amounted to 221,929 tonnes, valued at 525 million ECU during that period.
Am I right in thinking that the Minister gave the figures up to November 1990?
The figures are from the period January to September 1990.
So it is two-thirds of the actual figure. It really contributes a lot to the problem.
I make it three-quarters.
Can the Minister give any indication of the source of the imports?
I do not have that information as it is a separate question. Let me follow up by pointing out that if one bases them on the average per month during the 12 month period for the previous year, or the nine month period in this current year, the import figures are actually down.
I appreciate that, but the figures refer to legal imports. I believe illegal imports are considerably greater than legal imports.