I move:
That Seanad Éireann is of opinion that action should have been taken by the Government in relation to the sale of a large quantity of foreign beef to Western Germany this year on the Irish quota, which could have serious effects on our trade with Western Germany, a country from which we buy many times as much as they buy from us.
I put down this motion because of information I received from exporters of beef to Western Germany in this country that beef was being imported into Western Germany with a certificate of Irish origin from a country other than the Republic of Ireland. According to our trade statistics, from January to September, 1960, we exported 926 tons 17 cwts. valued at £182,396. From information I have received—and I have been on the phone on several occasions to Western Germany—the German Federal Republic imported from us, 3,650 tons, a difference according to our statistics of 2,724 tons. These figures do not include our exports of beef to the American Forces in Germany. They are dealt with separately and do not interfere with the quota of meat we are allowed to export to Western Germany.
The difference as I said is 2,724 tons. The value of that difference, working on the value of the 926 tons 17 cwts. as £182,396, is approximately over £500,000. I make it £550,000. The total quota that Western Germany gives us for 15 months is worth about £2 million. If that is true, a South American country has taken over £500,000 worth of our quota from us. In view of that fact, and in view of our trading with Germany, a country from which we import far more than we export, I consider it is a rather serious matter.
On 24th November as reported in Volume 185, No. 2, at column 268 of the Official Report, Deputy Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture:
... if he is aware that meat from foreign countries has been sold in Germany under the description "Irish Meat"; and, if so, what steps he has taken to prevent such an abuse and possible harm to Irish interests.
The Minister replied:
Allegations to this effect have been looked into, but no evidence that any non-Irish beef was sold in Germany as Irish beef has so far come to the notice of my Department nor is there anything to show that Ireland's interests have been adversely affected. In the latter connection I should like to point out that only beef covered by an official veterinary certificate issued by my Department can be counted against the relevant quota in the current Trade Agreement with Germany.
From my information 2,724 tons were imported into Western Germany with a certificate of Irish origin. The seriousness of that is not so much the amount involved, but the position of exporters from this country in so far as they are quoting in competition with a South American country which can deliver frozen beef at 4d., 5d. or 6d. a lb., possibly, less than we can. When some firm in Western Germany wants a thousand tons of beef, if an exporter from this country quotes for it, he should, everything being equal, be given the consideration to which he is entitled. The South American country which is involved has no quota from Western Germany and would not ordinarily be in competition with him.
My information is that this country, unknown to the Irish exporter, was in competition. The result is that we have already lost over £500,000 of the quota of £2,000,000 which we are allowed. That represents approximately one-fourth. I should be glad if the Minister could give a satisfactory reply. There is a lot of public concern about this. It has been mentioned in quite a few papers. In the Farmers' Journal of September 24th, 1960, we read: “Is our beef quota being stolen?” If the Minister can tell me that beef did not go to Western Germany on a certificate of Irish origin or if he can satisfactorily explain how these 2,724 tons of alleged Irish beef got into Western Germany, I shall be quite satisfied as, I am sure, will everybody else.