asked the Minister for Agriculture what surveys and investigations he has instructed his Department to institute on possible avenues of export for this country's agricultural produce in the EEC countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Common Market: Exports of Agricultural Produce.
10.
The import of practically all important agricultural products into the EEC countries is limited by quantitative restrictions and other means. My Department, in collaboration with the Department of External Affairs and other interested bodies, is constantly striving to secure improved outlets for our agricultural produce in these countries. A special investigation of Continental markets for agricultural products was made by the Advisory Committee on the Marketing of Agricultural Produce, the results of which were published.
I think Deputy Donegan's question envisages the market situation which we may reasonably anticipate would obtain in the event of our joining the Common Market in due course. Are any surveys at present being made of possible outlets for our agricultural produce in the event of our joining the Market?
I must say that I was wondering what exactly was meant by the question and I was not quite sure as to whether it referred to the situation at present or the prospects in future. Naturally, we are keeping an eye on the prospects for the future but we have no information as to the level of prices for the different agricultural commodities in these countries to enable us to make any kind of assessment of what the prospects might be for us.
I take it the Minister is examining the kind of markets available to us? At the present moment there are few, if any, markets available for mutton and lamb but there are markets for veal and pork. Would the Minister consider whether it might be possible to open markets for mutton and lamb which effort would necessitate some change in the normal eating habits of the people to whom we propose to sell?
The members of the House know what the prospects are in that regard, but we have nothing to guide us in forming any reasonable and reliable idea as to what the prospects will be. As the Deputy suggests, we are tremendously anxious to discover what the prospects will be.