Andrew Boylan
Question:12 Mr. Boylan asked the Taoiseach the volume and value of all vegetables and fruits imported for each of the years from 1995 to 1997 and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8148/98]
Ceisteanna—Questions. - Fruit and Vegetable Imports.
Details on the imports of fruit and vegetables for the years 1995 to 1997 are provided in the following table:
Imports of Fruits and Vegetables.
|
1995 £000 |
1995 Tonnes |
1996 £000 |
1996 Tonnes |
1997 £000 |
1997 Tonnes |
|
|
Fruit: |
||||||
|
Bananas |
20,293 |
45,710 |
21,390 |
45,118 |
23,295 |
50,066 |
|
Apples |
18,658 |
38,974 |
21,088 |
37,836 |
19,780 |
36,698 |
|
Oranges |
12,524 |
25,479 |
11,219 |
25,076 |
10,251 |
22,635 |
|
Mandarins and clementines |
5,728 |
8,380 |
6,436 |
8,569 |
6,354 |
8,622 |
|
Fresh grapes |
4,587 |
3,476 |
5,587 |
4,788 |
5,506 |
4,193 |
|
Dried grapes |
5,839 |
6,174 |
6,005 |
6,677 |
5,836 |
6,635 |
|
Pears |
4,330 |
7,933 |
6,380 |
10,788 |
5,061 |
8,948 |
|
Melons |
3,607 |
5,727 |
3,553 |
5,507 |
3,908 |
5,959 |
|
Other fruit |
31,479 |
35,665 |
38,174 |
41,289 |
39,817 |
39,662 |
|
Potatoes: |
||||||
|
Frozen Potatoes: |
31,199 |
48,660 |
29,364 |
54,901 |
28,202 |
57,578 |
|
Fresh potatoes |
9,961 |
31,425 |
9,510 |
37,029 |
7,510 |
40,449 |
|
Other potatoes |
3,999 |
2,969 |
6,768 |
5,013 |
6,250 |
4,247 |
|
Vegetables: |
||||||
|
Tomatoes |
14,677 |
23,437 |
17,545 |
23,421 |
16,315 |
25,551 |
|
Frozen vetetables |
13,694 |
20,518 |
16,790 |
25,359 |
16,483 |
24,516 |
|
Onions |
6,583 |
22,141 |
4,993 |
22,639 |
6,578 |
22,769 |
|
Cabbage |
6,776 |
11,526 |
8,359 |
15,058 |
9,114 |
13,584 |
|
Peas and beans |
5,549 |
27,880 |
6,007 |
27,260 |
9,371 |
57,917 |
|
Lettuce and chicory |
5,098 |
4,620 |
6,303 |
6,078 |
5,970 |
5,560 |
|
Carrots and turnips |
5,415 |
17,158 |
7,704 |
19,336 |
3,646 |
15,348 |
|
Mushrooms |
6,190 |
3,357 |
6,562 |
3,204 |
2,005 |
955 |
|
Other vegetables |
30,155 |
39,385 |
33,837 |
56,756 |
35,603 |
48,450 |
|
Total |
246,339 |
430,596 |
273,574 |
481,702 |
266,856 |
500,342 |
Note: Overall, approximately 5 per cent of trade is unclassified by commodity. The unclassified trade consists mainly of intra-EU estimates, including estimates for traders below the import survey threshold of £100,000.
I tabled this question to the Taoiseach some time ago, as regards the importation of fruits and vegetables which can be successfully grown here. The question was prompted by the by-election in north county Dublin when I visited the outskirts of Skerries and met a number of growers who are extremely disgruntled at the approach to marketing. What policies does the Government intend to introduce to organise the marketing of vegetables?
That is a separate question. The Deputy asked about statistics, not policy.
I tabled this question to ascertain the amount of vegetables and fruit imported and to see if the Government has any intention of addressing the problem of growers being pushed out of the market by foreign imports which can be successfully grown here. Surely the Minister would have anticipated my reason for tabling this question.
The Deputy should have addressed that question to the Minister for Agriculture and Food. The statistical aspects of the question is the responsibility of the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach.
The Minister of State is anxious to say something and perhaps the Ceann Comhairle will allow him do so. It is important for those involved.
The Minister of State is not responsible for policy in relation to this matter, only the statistics.
Perhaps now that I have received the statistics, he can answer my other question.
There are many ways in which the Deputy can pursue that information.
In the meantime, perhaps the Minister can give some assurance to those involved that the Government has, or will have, a policy on the issue.
As the Ceann Comhairle rightly said, I only have the job of counting the vegetables. I do not take responsibility for the policy aspect. The Deputy will appreciate that many vegetables have been grown since the by-election. The total value of fruit, potato and vegetable imports combined for 1997 is £266 million. I take the Deputy's point because, compared to the figure for exports, for the same year, it is £90 million, which is a significant gap. There are strong Government policies to bridge that gap with which other Ministers will deal.