Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Question:7 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Taoiseach the total value of processed food exports in each of the last two years and the countries to which these exports were made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Processed Food Exports.
I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the required information.
Exports of Processed Food*
|
1990 |
1991 |
|
|
£m |
£m |
|
|
Total |
2,363 |
2,595 |
|
Main countries of destination |
||
|
Great Britain |
777 |
830 |
|
France |
263 |
328 |
|
Germany |
258 |
277 |
|
Northern Ireland |
153 |
172 |
|
Netherlands |
125 |
231 |
*Dairy, fish, cereal, vegetable, fruit and egg products; meat, sugar, honey, coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and preparations thereof.
Note: Commodity detail from external trade statistics does not include (a) transactions (non-dutiable) of less than £200, (b) trade by firms operating in Shannon Free Airport, and (c) postal packages not covered by customs entries.
This is a new way of answering questions. There should be no more oral questions to the Taoiseach.
Is the Minister in a position to state if we have increased the volume of our exports of processed foods over the period concerned, and in particular if the volume of exports of processed beef and lamb have been increased? What steps are the Government taking to decrease the export of beef on the hoof while increasing the volume of processed beef exports?
The Deputy specifically asked about the export of processed meat and meat preparations. Our exports of these goods were worth £823 million in 1990 and £888 million in 1991. I have not the statistics for the volume of processed meats imported but I will try to get that information for the Deputy.
Let us proceed to Priority Questions. Let us not forget that this is a statistical question and matters of policy do not arise. Let that be a marker for Deputies.
A Cheann Comhairle, you ruled Question No. 11 in my name out of order and I now wish to refer you to the section which you brought to my notice, that is the Minister's reply to a question on 5 May——
If the Deputy has a grievance about which I know nothing——
I beg your indulgence, Sir——
——he might do me the courtesy of communicating with my office. I cannot adjudicate on the matter now and have no intention of doing so.
I submitted my questions over two weeks ago and I only received notice two hours before the start of business today that it was not in order. That is not fair play. It was not so long ago that you raised the matter of the rights of individual Deputies in this House and these rights are being taken from me.
I am deeply disappointed with you, Deputy O'Sullivan. The Deputy knows full well of my utter impartiality in these matters and did not pay me the courtesy of advising me that he wished to raise this matter.
I have written proof——