asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the progress he has made with regard to the banning of imports of beef into the EEC from outside the Community.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Meat Imports.
5.
While agreement was not reached by the EEC Council of Ministers to ban imports of beef into the Community, considerable progress has been made on measures to discourage such imports. These include an increase in the levy on frozen beef imports, an arrangement under which imports of frozen beef must be matched by purchases of an equal quantity of beef from Community intervention agencies' stocks and also a reduction in the period of validity of Community licences for the import of third country beef.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say whether or not the progress which he says has been made is sufficient to protect our beef trade?
The Minister is taking special cognisance of this question. He has, through the EEC, got approval of measures to help and I think so far as the position is concerned at present he is doing quite a good job in this field.
I would like to repeat my question to the Parliamentary Secretary. Is he telling this House that the progress he claims has been made by his Minister is sufficient to protect the beef trade of this country?
I can say that the Minister has made all the progress that could be made. He has to contend with the other Ministers in the European Community Council. All the progress that could be made has been made so far as our Minister is concerned.
What further steps will be taken to protect this very important industry which is in danger of collapsing at the present time?
All the steps that can be taken are being taken by the Minister. The proposals are a reduction from the 90 days normally available for imports into the Community to 45 days for frozen meat, 35 days for products other than frozen beef coming from nonEuropean third countries and ten days for products other than frozen beef coming from European third countries. I am sure the Deputy understands all this and what it means. Then, there is a review of the levy as well so that I think the position has been in very safe hands.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that despite the alleged progress being made by his Minister the beef industry is in an extremely precarious position? This being so, can the Parliamentary Secretary tell the House what further action the Minister and the Government propose to take to ensure the safety of this very valuable industry?
The Minister is well aware of the importance of the beef industry. He is doing everything possible. So far as the sale of beef is concerned everybody knows that the supply exceeds the demand and when such a position obtains big quantities of beef have to be brought into intervention. I do not see what else can be done, given the present situation.
Has the Minister pointed out that the importation of this meat from the third countries is completely contrary to the spirit of the Treaty of Rome?
It was the Deputy's party who negotiated our entry into Europe.
The Parliamentary Secretary should stick to the situation as it is at present.
(Interruptions.)
Order. Deputy Wilson for a final supplementary.
The Government now want to blame Fianna Fáil. Is that it?
There is no question of blaming Fianna Fáil.
(Interruptions.)
I heard Deputy Lynch say once that when we were members of the Economic Community there would be a full market for all our beef.
Now that my name has been invoked, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if he remembers my saying that there would be plenty of hard work for the Government and for the people alike? It is up to the Government now to do their part.
(Interruptions.)
Let us pass on. Deputy Wilson for a final supplementary.
In view of the failure to ban imports from third countries altogether, would the Parliamentary Secretary not think that a satisfactory line to go on would be to improve the ratio rather than the jumelage system they have decided on?
The Minister, as the House is aware, has been spending a great deal of his time in Brussels hammering out arrangements, agreements, compromises, call them what you will, and he has to work on the negotiations made by the Deputy's party for our entry into Europe.
Question No. 6.
(Interruptions.)
Deputies, allow us to make some progress at Question Time.
Would it not be a fruitful field of operation to try to improve on the ratio that was decided on?
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that under the Treaty of Rome this country is entitled to a preference in the marketing of our beef to the other countries and that we are not getting any preference? We want to know what the Parliamentary Secretary and his Government are doing to see that the Treaty of Rome is observed?
I can assure the Deputy that any preferences we are entitled to as a result of our membership of the Economic Community are being obtained.
Nonsense. The Parliamentary Secretary is talking through his hat.
Question No. 6. We must pass on.
I am quite confident that our Minister is well able to look after his business much more so than if Deputy Collins was in the job.
6.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the progress he has made with regard to the banning of imports of pigmeat into the EEC from outside the Community.
In common with some of the other Community Ministers, I have asked at meetings of the Council of Ministers for stringent action against imports of pigmeat into the Community from third countries including a temporary suspension of imports. As a result of these representations, the EEC Commission have imposed supplementary levies as from 1st May on imports of pigmeat from third countries.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say what the position would be as far as the bacon industry in this country is concerned if there was a ban on the importation of pigmeat into EEC countries from third countries?
The position is that there are nine countries in the EEC, as I have no doubt the Deputy is aware. Naturally, we and the Minister are quite anxious to have this ban enforced but he is subject to a decision on the part of the other agricultural ministers of the Community. He has succeeded, after a great deal of difficulty, in getting an additional levy of £27 per ton on third country imports to Britain, which is our main market, so there will be a supplementary levy now of £27 per ton. I think that should be quite helpful.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary state what the position would be so far as our bacon industry is concerned if there was a ban on the importation of pigmeat into the EEC countries from third countries?
The position is that that is not possible to achieve at the present time. Ireland is only one of nine members and the Minister has again and again referred to these questions. He was in Europe yesterday and he is there again today. It is questions like this he is dealing with.
Without much success.
He has had marked success taking all the circumstances into account.
If the Parliamentary Secretary calls that success, I wonder what failure is.
Question No. 7.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say if there will be a Press conference at the airport when the Minister comes home tonight or tomorrow?
I have called the next question.
I am quite satisfied with the efforts the Minister has made. The Deputy should be well aware of the difficulties that obtain in other countries.
(Interruptions.)
I have called the next question.