asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement regarding the British Government's decision not to issue new licences for the export of live cattle and pigs; and the effect this will have on the cattle trade in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Trade.
2.
On 12th July the British House of Commons adopted a motion establishing an independent inquiry into the export of live animals for slaughter overseas and suspending the issue of export licences for such animals pending the report of the inquiry.
The effect on the Irish cattle trade of this suspension will depend on how long it remains in operation and the extent to which it will generate increased Continental demand for Irish cattle.
Does the Minister expect that England will be taking less cattle from us as a result of killing their own? There has always been a trade in live cattle from England to the Continent and I should like to ask if the Minister feels that the decision of the British will affect our position?
It is a possibility that they will be taking less cattle from us but then the British will not be sending cattle to the Continent and there should be a deficit to that extent which we should be able to fill.
Since a levy is likely to come on our exports of cattle to the Continent will this and the British decision have much effect on our cattle trade here? Will cattle prices drop much more?
As the Deputy is aware, a levy has not come on and at present the appearance of things is that it is not likely to come on for some time.
Would the Minister not agree that it would be better not to say too much about the drop in the price of cattle at the moment? We do not know much about that drop although I know it is serious. The fact that we are getting people to panic at the moment is not good for the cattle trade.
The Minister feels under an obligation to tell the people the truth of what could happen.
3.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the precise terms of the cattle agreement recently made between the EEC and Yugoslavia and its likely effect on the Irish cattle trade.
The provisions of the recent trade agreement between EEC and Yugoslavia cover the traditional Yugoslav exports of young cattle and baby beef. The agreement provides that while Yugoslavia will be charged a reduced levy on such imports into the Community the price at the frontier must be based on the full levy in operation at the time, so that the imports should not affect the market prices in the Community. In these circumstances there would be no adverse effects on the Irish cattle trade.
A copy of the French text of the trade agreement is in the Dáil Library. If the Deputy so desires I will arrange to have an unofficial translation of that part of the agreement relating to cattle and beef forwarded to him.
I would be grateful for a translation of the agreement. Does the Minister not accept that the influx of cattle from any source, especially from a third country source, into the EEC must have a detrimental effect on our cattle trade in that it helps to meet a part of the deficiency that we are attempting to meet? It is competition which has been relieved to a large degree of the import duty and, at the same time, we have to pay a large proportion of the duty even though we are a member country and, for this reason, does the Minister not accept that the heavy supply of cattle from eastern Europe into Italy is in direct competition with us, a member country?
I would be inclined to agree with the Deputy's views. However, I hope the Deputy knows that I had no say in this arrangement.
I cannot accept that. Certainly the Minister must have had a say as a member of the Council of Ministers.
I should like to explain to the Deputy that this is a trade agreement and not something which was agreed by the Council of Agricultural Ministers. It is a trade agreement and it is an old established trade that was there since the Community started. It did not come before the Agricultural Council of Ministers at all.
That is precisely my point. It is the Minister's business to bring it before the Council of Agricultural Ministers because it has an adverse effect on this country. It is giving concessions to a third country.
It seems strange that we are having a tariff on our young cattle going into the Community and that we are permitting them to enter from outside of the Community. To me it does not make sense particularly when it is supposed to be a free trade area.
Is the Minister satisfied, apart altogether from any agreements with third countries that there is not a high incidence, when it pays, of smuggling over the land frontiers? What is being done to protect our interests there?
Difficulties arise in relation to smuggling over land frontiers.