I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 32 together.
The international pigmeat market has been experiencing serious difficulties over the past year or so due to the combination of oversupply of pigs and substantially reduced demand in the traditional import markets of Russia and the Far East. Ireland's pigmeat sector has not been immune from these developments.
I have raised the continuing difficulties in the pigmeat market directly with Commissioner Fischler and also in the most recent Agriculture Council where I, along with a number of other member states sought urgent action to address the matter. In particular, I sought immediate reinstatement of the high export refund to Russia and the resumption of the food aid programme under which 100,000 tonnes of EU pigmeat was committed to Russia. My Department is in ongoing contact with the Commission on this and every opportunity is used, including most recently at the pigmeat management meeting, to raise the need for urgent action.
I accept that particular difficulties are being experienced by certain producers in the Border regions as a result of the fire at a Northern Ireland pig processing plant in 1998. I have met Commissioner Fischler recently on this and have been in contact with him an a number of occasions since then in relation to a special measure aimed at alleviating the problems for the producers in question. Senior officials of my Department also had meetings with the Commission on the matter and contact is continuing with a view to finding a solution within the constraints of EU State aid law.