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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 26 Jul 1961

Vol. 191 No. 11

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rome Treaty; Provisions Concerning Agricultural Produce.

1.

asked the Taoiseach whether he has received any clarification of the provision of the Rome Treaty concerning agricultural produce which states that the quantities to be covered by the agreements are to be based on the average volume of exchanges in the three-year period prior to the entry into force of the Treaty; and whether this provision, while protecting traditional markets for the respective countries, coincidentally restricts the scope of potential markets for other members of the Common Market.

The Deputies appear to have in mind the provisions of Article 45 of the Rome Treaty. This is one of several provisions in the Treaty which were designed to facilitate the expansion of trade between the Member Countries during the transitional period. The long-term agreements or contracts which the article envisages would cease to operate as soon as the Common Market stage is reached.

As far as I am aware, only one such contract has so far been concluded and it would appear that the Community intend to rely to a greater extent on other measures to increase intra-Community trade in the transitional period. It cannot therefore be said that the provisions in question are likely to restrict the scope for increased trade between the Members of the Community.

Would the Taoiseach say if he feels that the optimism in rural Ireland, particularly in relation to dairy products, is justified in view of the fact that up to the present we have not been able to outsell Denmark in the British Market? Does he believe that we will be able to expand markets, particularly in dairy products in competition with countries like Denmark, when we have additional transport problems?

Surely that is an argument, not a question.

It seems to be a different question in any case.

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