Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 May 1969

Vol. 240 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Discussions with West German Minister.

8.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will report on his recent discussions with the West German Minister for Agriculture.

During the recent visit of the Federal German Minister for Food, Agriculture and Forestry we had a very useful discussion on Irish-German trade generally, and in particular Irish exports of cattle and beef to Germany. We arranged that the cattle and beef trade would be considered in more detail at a meeting of officials, which is expected to be held during the next week or so. We also had a general exchange of views on market conditions and prospects for other agricultural products and on the current EEC situation.

In view of the fact that newspaper reports since have indicated that there is good hope of our cattle getting into Germany again, could the Minister indicate whether these reports are correct? Is there good hope?

The only thing I should like to say in regard to any expressions of opinion given in newspaper reports or by reporters or those who made them is that there are officials coming from Germany to discuss the possibility. This is at least a little more hopeful than the position has been up to now.

Could the Minister say if the 2,000 cattle that Deputy Haughey, when Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, told us would be imported by the Germans will even now be taken, three years later?

For the Deputy's information we got rid of those a couple of years ago.

It was announced in the House, but they were not exported since.

Barr
Roinn