asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether the EEC have removed tariff and all other restrictions on imports of cattle; what exact change in import regulations on cattle have taken place during the last few weeks; whether he had notice of these changes impending; and if so, why information of the changes impending was not given to Irish producers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Cattle Import Regulations.
21.
The tariffs and other restrictions on the import of cattle into the Member States of the EEC have not been removed.
Under the EEC Beef Regulation, which has been in operation since November, 1964, changes in market prices inside and outside the Community affect from week to week the amount of the variable levy payable on imports of cattle in addition to the import duty which does not vary. Movements in market prices have resulted in there being no levy on imports of cattle into Belgium since 20th February, and on imports into the Netherlands since 27th March but levy is still payable on imports into France, Germany, Italy and Luxembourg. These levy changes result from market price conditions and not from any alteration of the import regulations.
However, as a result of a recent decision by the EEC Council of Ministers governing the level of the national guide prices determined by the Member States for the year beginning this week these guide prices are being increased generally and the higher level of protection which this involves seems likely to make trade with the EEC difficult for us and other supplying countries during the coming 12 months.
Would it be too pessimistic an assessment of the Minister's statement to say that it implies it is unlikely that we, or indeed Great Britain, will be in a position to export live fat cattle to EEC countries during the next 12 months?
I missed a lot of what the Deputy said.
Would it be too pessimistic an interpretation of the Minister's statement to say that it implies there is little prospect of ourselves, or indeed of Great Britain, having an opportunity of exporting live cattle to the EEC during the next 12 months?
I do not think it would be over-pessimistic to have this view in mind. That there may be this exclusion of our cattle and British cattle, and indeed Danish cattle, is quite on the cards. We have got to bear that in mind during the months ahead. I do not say it is absolutely so but these conditions and changes, particularly in the guide prices which imply the higher levy, do not enhance our prospects of having a continuing outlet, during the whole of the year at any rate.
We shall have a rough time getting back in.
Not if we do not clutter ourselves up with cattle, which we could sell at reasonably good prices, as we did last year.
Any prospect of the export of the 2,000 cattle to Germany?
We have sent 4,000 cattle to Italy and they would more than make up for the 2,000.
They were all calves.
They were oldfashioned calves. There was not one half-crown calf among them.
Oh, now——
If there is something interesting in the Deputy's mind I am sure the Deputy will let us know all about it in his own time.
22.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the exact change in position from 1st April in relation to Irish opportunities to export cattle to EEC countries and to Britain, having regard to the exports of cattle from Britain to EEC countries, and exports in the form of beef from both Ireland and Britain to EEC countries.
As I have indicated in reply to Question No. 21, the national guide prices for cattle are being increased generally in the Member States of the EEC for the year commencing this week. These increases involve a higher level of protection for EEC markets and accordingly may have a restrictive effect on exports of cattle and beef to those markets from Ireland and other supplying countries with possible repercussions on the British and other markets.