asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the effect which devaluations and the floating of sterling have on farm incomes, he will take action, if necessary at EEC level, to secure for Irish farmers the facilities that apply in other EEC countries so that they will not be faced with stability of prices for their products while imported products used in farming keep rising in cost.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Incomes.
46.
I fully appreciate the effects on Irish agriculture of the Community system of monetary compensatory amounts, which is designed to enable the common pricing arrangements under the common agricultural policy to function despite the international currency disturbances. In the absence of such a system the common pricing arrangements could scarcely operate at all when the currencies of most member States are not being maintained at official parties. I need not stress that the repercussions of this on Irish agriculture would bear no comparison with the existing disadvantages of the monetary compensatory amounts system. I have, of course, been endeavouring to secure the mitigation of those disadvantages wherever possible and I can assure the Deputy that no special facilities, not available to Ireland, have been granted by the Community to other member states.
Is the Minister not aware that Ireland and Italy are the two countries most affected by this?
I am well aware that that is so. England, of course, is in the same position as we are. While it is not an exporting country in the way that we are, from the currency point of view, it is the same. All I can say is that this is what was negotiated in the Treaty of Accession. Any move we make to get relief of this has to be outside that treaty or a derogation from the terms of the treaty.