Robert Molloy
Question:3 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will report on the most recent meeting of the EU Council of Farm Ministers; and if he will give details of any agreement which may have been reached.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - EU Council of Farm Ministers.
The Council of Agriculture Ministers is still in progress. Consequently I am unable to give any details in relation to developments in the negotiations on the Commission's proposals for prices and related measures for 1994-95 and for milk quotas. However, the Council adopted a number of measures, particularly in the veterinary and plant health areas, as follows: Directives amending annexes to Council Directives (i) 86/362/EEC and 86/363/EEC on the fixing of maximum residue levels of pesticides in and on cereals and foodstuffs of animal origin respectively and (ii) 90/642 on the fixing of maximum residue levels in and on certain products of plant origin, including fruit and vegetables; directive laying down the principles relating to the zootechnical and genealogical conditions applicable to imports from third countries of animals, their semen, ova and embryos and amending Directive 77/504/EEC; decision laying down certain specific health conditions for the marketing of certain types of eggs; decision amending Decision 90/425/EEC on expenditure in the veterinary field; regulation on Community plant variety rights; regulation amending Regulation (EC) No. 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs and regulation on the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture.
I thank the Minister for the information in the latter part of his reply. What I want to know, however, is in relation to the prices and quotas and in particular what stand the Minister is taking in regard to additional agricultural production restrictions following the implementation of the proposed GATT. Will there be EU compensation to farmers to make up for the effect of those additional restrictions in the event of their being over and above what is contained in the CAP reform?
Obviously I cannot comment beyond that of which I am aware. As I said, the Council is still in progress. Apart from beef and milk, the Commission price proposals for 1994-95 involve minimal changes for those sectors of interest to Ireland. Essentially they involve implementation of CAP reform decisions together with consequential or other adjustments to related measures. I can detail some of the proposals for the Deputy, but he can rest assured that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry will make every effort to ensure that a package is agreed that is in the best interests of Irish agriculture. Unfortunately, at this point I cannot give the Deputy any specific or definite information.
Is the Minister actively seeking compensation for farmers who would be affected by the additional production restrictions contained in the proposed GATT?
The process that is in progress at the moment involves price fixing for 1994-95. The issue raised by the Deputy is important and is of consequence but, as I understand it, the areas being pursued are by way of proposal from the Commission or of compromise proposal from the Greek Presidency.
I will ask the question for the third time. Is the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry proposing to the Commission and at the Council meetings that such compensation would be provided? Is he putting the matter on the agenda?
I am not sure that that is approporiate to the present Council meeting. I can give the Deputy the answer to this specific question separately.