asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the licensing quota or other controls that obtain in regard to the import of grain.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grain Imports.
6.
Imports of cereals are not subject to any quantitative restriction since the coming into operation of the EEC Common Agricultural Policy on 1st February, 1973. Such imports are now subject to the EEC levy and compensatory amounts systems.
Do I take it from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply that anybody can now import grain of any description, subject to the EEC regulations? Is this the position in so far as licensing quota or other restrictions are concerned?
Quantitative restrictions on cereal imports cannot be applied in the EEC. Imports from third countries are subject to levies which ensure that imported grain will cost well above intervention prices and, consequently, will not depress the market for home produced cereals. Prior to accession imports of cereals were limited to quantities required to supplement home production. That is not the case at present. Licences prior to this were issued only to persons engaged in the cereals or feeding stuffs trade. Now that this country is a member of the EEC we must comply with rules and regulations that are in operation within the Community.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Minister for Finance, in the course of a reply to a question on the last evening that the Dáil was in session, seemed to contradict what has already been stated by the Parliamentary Secretary? I understood from the Minister's reply that there is power to put tax on quantities being imported from EEC countries.
There is a difference between imports from EEC countries and imports from outside the EEC. The quantitative restrictions which Deputy Blaney has asked about, and which is the subject matter of the question, cannot be applied.
To clarify the position I should like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary to state if it is now the case that anybody may import grain from either EEC countries or from countries outside the EEC or if there is still a licensing provision operated by the Department?
Anybody can import grain from EEC countries but imports from the countries outside the Community are subject to levies.
Will they still be restricted to certain importers?
No. That used be the position prior to our accession to the EEC. Now the EEC rules apply and we cannot impose restrictions.
I am not asking the Parliamentary Secretary to impose these restrictions. I am asking if it is so that they can be freely imported by anybody?
Yes, subject to EEC conditions.