asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if the Common Agricultural Policy of the EEC as it existed at the time of Ireland's accession is still definitive or is a subject for renegotiation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Agricultural Policy.
1.
In the context of the forthcoming multilateral trade negotiations under the auspices of the GATT the Council of Ministers have decided already that the principles and mechanisms of the Common Agricultural Policy are not matters for negotiation. The EEC Commission, however, are at present carrying out a review of the operation of the Common Agricultural Policy. They have indicated that they will put forward some proposals in the matter later in the year but, of course, any such proposals can be adopted only with the approval of the Council of Ministers.
Would the Minister not agree that a serious attempt is being made by certain member nations of the EEC, notably Germany and France, to undermine the Common Agricultural Policy, particularly in respect of support prices and that this would be most deleterious to the Irish farmer and would undo largely the alleged benefits of EEC membership as presented to use at the time of the referendum campaign?
On the contrary, the French are at least as anxious as we are to protect and maintain the CAP on every occasion on which there is a discussion on that policy.
Is the Minister being made aware by his colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, of the cutback in the regional policy and is this not part and parcel of the point I am making about the reduction in the CAP vis-à-vis the Irish farmer? I trust we may be assured by the Minister that he and the Minister for Foreign Affairs will endeavour to use their utmost energies to get these benefits which were alleged to accrue from Common Market membership.
As the Deputy knows, there can be no change in the Common Agricultural Policy unless any such change is agreed and sanctioned by the Council of Ministers. We will have our opportunity of putting forward our views.