asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the virtual completion of EEC agricultural policy, he has analysed the effects which EEC membership would have on this country's agricultural structure; and what changes he foresees in farming patterns, particularly in relation to changes in output and farm size.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Agriculture in EEC Conditions.
11.
It is of course an objective of the common agricultural policy, as laid down in the Treaty of Rome, to ensure a fair standard of living for the agricultural community. The principles on which the Community system is based recognise the importance of family farms and stress that in order to preserve the family character every means should be used to strengthen the economic and competitive capacity of family undertakings.
As indicated in my Department's publication "Agriculture in the Second Programme for Economic Expansion" there is "no doubt that the application of the common agricultural policy to Ireland would lead to an acceleration of output and a substantial increase in agriculture's contribution to national economic development".
The prices to EEC producers for most agricultural commodities are higher than those obtaining in this country. This applies particularly to cattle and to a less extent to products such as milk and barley. On the other hand, Irish prices for wheat and sugar beet appear to be already at or above EEC levels.
Do the Parliamentary Secretary and the Government not tend to exaggerate the advantages accruing to our agriculture from entry into EEC? Most European countries are now tending to subsidise their agriculture instead of carrying out their original idea in this regard.
The answer to the first part of the question is "no". We have been most realistic.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary think the present deplorable flight from the land will be accelerated, should we enter the EEC?
There will be no acceleration of that sort but there will be an acceleration in the capacity of the farmers to produce.
Have the Parliamentary Secretary and the Minister envisaged where Ireland would be agriculturally if Britain is in the Common Market and we are not? Would it then be proposed to sell our agricultural produce to the Isle of Man or to Samoa?
That is complete supposition and conjecture.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary had any reference to the fact that if we go into the EEC, subsidies and price supports will disappear under the terms of the Treaty of Rome?
Price levels for agricultural produce in the EEC at the moment are much higher than here.
You have only about two per cent to play with.