asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if the Government have examined in depth the impact of the farm policy proposals of the Commission of the European Economic Community on the future pattern of Irish dairy farming, particularly in the context of Ireland and Great Britain joining the EEC and noting that these proposals generally provide for a reduction of butter price by 2/4d per 1b, for the slaughter of 250,000 dairy cows during the next two seasons, for the reduction of dairy herds by three million cows by 1976, and for a general reduction of expenditure by member states on agricultural improvement and price support from £1,800 million per annum to £830 million per annum by 1980.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Farm Policy.
25.
My Department is keeping a close watch on developments in connection with the Memorandum on the Reform of Agriculture which was submitted by the European Commission to the EEC Council of Ministers in December last. The Memorandum is being examined by member states and Community institutions, and apart from some limited measures (mainly a premium scheme for the slaughter of cows) which were recently approved by the EEC Council of Ministers, it is not yet possible to indicate the extent to which the Commission's suggestions will be adopted and to come to conclusions as to their possible impact on Ireland as a future member of the Community.