asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether all restrictions on the quantity of agricultural Irish exports to (a) the six member countries of the EEC and (b) the three other applicant countries will disappear on the day of this country's accession to the EEC.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Exports.
44.
As from the start of the transition period, Irish exports of agricultural products to the other member states of the enlarged Community will be subject to the relevant implementing regulations of the common agricultural policy and these, in general, prohibit quantitative restrictions in trade between the member States.
Can the Minister state specifically if the quotas at present operating on the British market for Irish butter and milk will disappear at the beginning of the transition period?
Yes, the quotas will disappear, as I understand, at the time of accession.
45.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if all Irish agricultural exports to the member countries of the EEC will receive (a) the market price and (b) the target price obtaining in the recipient country on the day of this country's accession to the EEC.
During the transition period the prices of agricultural products in the applicant countries will have to be brought into line with the common price levels of the Community in six equal steps. The first of these steps will be taken in 1973 and the last at the end of 1977. During this period trade in agricultural products within the enlarged Community will be subject to a system of levies on imports and refunds on exports to compensate for the differences in the prices prevailing in the applicant countries and in the present Community. These compensatory amounts will, of course, be gradually phased out according as prices in the applicant countries are brought into line with the common Community price levels.
These arrangements will apply to all our main agricultural exports except lamb for which there is as yet no common organisation of the market in the Community. In this case the Community's common customs tariff will be gradually phased out over the transition period.
Have detailed regulations for the amount of compensation been drawn up and agreed?
Not so far as I know.
When will they be agreed?
What is generally envisaged is that there will be a gradual levelling off over five years.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
I wish to raise the subject matter of Questions Nos. 33, 34 and 35 of Wednesday, 30th June, on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
On the week before last I had a Private Notice Question, a question which I addressed to the Minister for Justice. Last week, because of pressure of business, I asked for a written reply. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I propose also to raise that matter on the Adjournment.
Will the Deputy give the number of the question?
I think it was No. 72 on last Thursday's Order Paper or on Friday's Order Paper.
The Chair will communicate with Deputy Harte.
Could the Ceann Comhairle tell us how many questions there are still to be answered, not alone for today but for tomorrow?
On today's Order Paper we had 190 questions. Forty-four have been replied to and that leaves a balance of 144, plus about 50 for tomorrow.
Are there 50 coming in tomorrow?
Yes.
That means another two or three hours at least?
Judging by the speed, I would say another five hours.
Do not blame Members entirely for that; but could we have an idea of how these will be disposed of, or what are the arrangements for having all the questions answered before the enforced Recess?
The position is that Standing Orders lay down an hour tomorrow for Questions and there is nothing the Chair can do about it.
Could the Ceann Comhairle tell us what time there is available for these 200 odd questions?
One hour.
Is it not true that from time to time on Thursdays additional time has been granted for Questions? Is it proposed to take the time from the debate tomorrow for the purpose of answering questions and, if it is, could the Ceann Comhairle arrange with Ministers, one of whom today read at least one reply of four pages, to give those as written replies rather than spend the time of the House reading them out?
You objected when I did that.
A Cheann Comhairle, could I have a written reply to Question No. 138?
Yes. A written reply to No. 138.
Will all the questions be disposed of tomorrow?
That is a matter for the Deputies but at the rate we are going it would require many hours to dispose of them.
Questions will be at 2.30 p.m. tomorrow. I presume we will go along and finish Questions, or do we stop at a certain time?
If the House agrees I would be willing to do that.
We do not want Questions taken in the time allocated to the Adjournment Debate.
You cannot have it both ways.
We will sit until 8 o'clock instead of 5.30.
We will sit extra time. There is no problem, you know.
Sit until 12 tomorrow night.
Could we not sit next week?
The Deputy says that with his tongue in his cheek obviously. However, we will sit late tomorrow night.
You have had your tongue in your cheek in regard to the Forcible Entry Bill for a long time.
My position is very clear.
(Interruptions.)