asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of times he has met and has had discussions with the NFA; the number of occasions on which officers of his Department have received the NFA over the past three years; and if it is his intention to set up a body or agricultural council, on which farmers organisations would have the majority, to advise the Minister and his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meetings with NFA.
71.
I have met and have had discussions with the NFA on 18 occasions since I became Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. Officials of my Department were present at these meetings. Officials had 29 separate meetings with the NFA during the past three years. The Government's position in regard to consultation with farmers' organisations was explained by my predecessor when replying to a question by the Deputy on the 5th February, 1970. The Government are prepared to consider any proposals which these organisations may wish to put forward for the establishment of effective consultative machinery.
Can the Minister tell us if there are better relations now between the Minister and the farming organisations than there were between them and his predecessor? Surely the Minister is aware that during the reign of his predecessor——
That is not a question. That is argumentative. It does not arise on this question.
Surely we all know the relations that existed in the past.
That has nothing to do with this question.
Surely we are entitled to ask if relations are better at present.
The Deputy is being argumentative. He is not seeking information.
Farmers were arrested for parading outside the Dáil gates and no one else has been arrested for doing that since.
I am calling Question No. 72.
I am not absolutely sure of this but I think that in Denmark there are regular fortnightly consultations with the agricultural interests on the development of the negotiations for entry to the EEC. Would the Minister consider on his own initiative instituting such regularised contacts with the farming organisations?
If the farming organisations wish to consult with the Department or the Minister on any matter of importance, this can easily be arranged. With particular reference to the importance of our entry into the EEC, I spoke to one of the farmers' leaders recently about the desirability of close liaison between the farmers' organisations and the Department.
Every one realises that the Minister is an improvement on his predecessor in this regard.