asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if the National Agricultural Council is still in existence; when it last met; if he proposes to reconstitute it; if so, in what form; if he will enter into discussions on the matter with the General Council of Committees of Agriculture and other interests; and, if so, when.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Agricultural Council.
40.
Members of the former National Agricultural Council which was established in 1967 were appointed to the council for a two-year period and this period has now expired. The last meeting of the council was held on 22nd August, 1968. I have not so far taken any steps to reconstitute the council. As the Deputy is, perhaps, aware, I wrote to the leaders of the two principal farm organisations on the 29th July last stressing the importance which the Government attached to the speedy working out of procedures for consultation on agricultural policy matters between farmers' organisations and the Government and invited both leaders to discuss this matter with me, preferably together, but separately if they so preferred. I indicated that in the event of the working out of agreed consultation procedures being delayed it was my intention to have discussions with the principal farm organisations as and when the occasion required. The President of the ICMSA accepted my invitation and we discussed the matter of a meeting held on 20th August last. The President of the NFA, however, declined my invitation even though I repeated the offer to see him on two subsequent occasions.
As to the form of any future council, I have repeatedly stated that I do not mind what particular type of representative machinery is established for the purpose of discussions with the Government and Ministers provided the major organisations can agree about it. I have already today invited another Deputy's attention to a statement to this effect which I made in Dáil Éireann on 10th December, 1968.
Has the Minister received representations from the General Council of Committees of Agriculture who are most anxious to discuss many matters relating to agriculture since they are the representatives of the only statutory Agricultural Council Committee? Could the Minister arrange to meet the General Council at the earliest opportunity?
Yes, I have received a communication on behalf of the General Council of Committees of Agriculture in which suggestions were made which would, perhaps, be capable of being discussed further with representatives of the General Council. That I have not set up any such meeting was, perhaps, due to my hope that in the interim there might have been developments on those other fronts about which I have just been answering questions which would have had a bearing on the request from the General Council. This does not mean that the General Council's request for discussions will be ignored; it will not.
Can we hope that the Minister will be available to meet them next week? There is no point in postponing discussions indefinitely.
I shall have to check on when I will be available.