Vol. 448 No. 3
184 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to approach the EU regarding the possibility of a market support system for the pigmeat sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1869/95]
At the Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels on 23 January I raised with my colleagues the situation of the pigmeat industry in Ireland and the need for the EU to take action to alleviate the difficulties which pig producers are suffering.
The EU Commission decided, at a Pigmeat Management Committee meeting on 30 January to introduce an Aid for private storage scheme for a period of three months for up to 70,000 tonnes of pigmeat, with effect from 6 February. I have also raised with the Commission the need to take action to counteract the feed cost disadvantage suffered by Irish producers.
