asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, if, in view of the fact that the recent measures taken by the EEC Commission to stabilise the beef market have failed, he has any new proposals to put before the Commission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Production.
39.
The EEC Commission has announced a series of new proposals to strengthen the Community beef market through more orderly marketing and measures to encourage consumption of beef. These proposals and the general situation on the beef market will be considered at a meeting of the Council of Ministers next week.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary expect that the proposals before the Council of Ministers next week will have the effect of taking down the beef mountain there at the moment?
I cannot anticipate what results will emerge from the meeting of the Council of Ministers next week. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would be impossible for me to do so. As indicated in the reply, these proposals and the general situation of the beef market will be considered next week. We must await the outcome of the meeting of the Council of Ministers to ascertain what decision will be made.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary outline the proposals that are being made to the Council of Ministers on Monday?
As indicated in the reply, it is a series of new proposals to strengthen the Community beef market——
The Parliamentary Secretary should give the details. Words are of no use.
Some of the proposals are given here in page 2 of this brief.
We have not got that page. Will the Parliamentary Secretary tell us?
Deputies should not be disheartened.
Thank you very much indeed. No wonder we are doing well in Europe. Ask the farming community how well we are doing.
The farmers had an opportunity within the past month of expressing a viewpoint.
The Parliamentary Secretary is going against them——
(Interruptions.)
Do Deputies want to hear this or not?
If not, we will bring you back on the Adjournment.
I do not mind that. That was raised on the Adjournment before and Deputies know what was the outcome. The special measures which the Commission have taken in recent months with a view to stabilising the market include (a) a prohibition on imports of frozen beef, other than GATT quotas, except where an equal quantity of beef from intervention stocks is purchased; (b) suspension of special facilities for imports of frozen beef for processing; (c) the special régime for the import of calves and young cattle for fattening at reduced rates of duty, and free of levy, has been suspended; (d) the granting of licences for the importation of cattle and fresh or chilled beef from European Third countries has been suspended up to the 12th of July where applications are received after the 26th of June; (e) an increase in export restitutions. Mind you, that type of reply was not the type of reply that was given here when Fianna Fáil were in office.
(Interruptions.)
I never had to read my supplementary information line by line and word for word as the Parliamentary Secretary has done.
Deputy Crinion, a final supplementary.
What the Minister has told us is what has already——
A question, please, Deputy.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that what he has told us is what has already been done but has failed? What I am asking is: what are the proposals it is intended to put before the Council of Ministers on next Monday and Tuesday——
Deputies
Hear, hear.
That is a six-marker.
——on behalf of Irish farmers?
Everybody knows that the position of the beef market presents problems and, when the Minister——
What is the Parliamentary Secretary doing about it?
Give us the proposals.
(Interruptions.)
I have given sufficient information and I do not propose——
(Interruptions.)
I should like to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
(Interruptions.)
If Deputies over there want to know the position on important matters, I am giving them the information.
Answer the question.
Next question.
(Interruptions.)
It is on page 31.
Deputy Colley need not smirk at all. Everybody knows that when——
I have called the next question.
(Interruptions.)
The Parliamentary Secretary should give us the information he has.
40.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that beef importing countries in Europe are avoiding the embargo curtailing imports of frozen beef into the Community by importing fresh or chilled meat and thus avoiding the requirements to buy part of their supplies from agricultural producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am fully aware of the situation in this regard. I raised it forcefully at the last meeting of the Council of Ministers and got an assurance that it would be looked into. I am glad to say that the recent announcement of the Commission confirms that it is taking immediate steps to extend the conditions relating to imports of frozen beef from third countries to cover similar imports of all types of beef.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that we were given the same reply on the decision that was taken last May? They have failed completely. Is he satisfied that these new proposals will succeed and that they will not find a way round the frozen beef curtailment?
I am reasonably satisfied and, as announced by the Commission on 8th July, they will take immediate steps to extend jumellage to all types of beef, fresh, chilled and live animals, excluding only GATT quotas.
How much curtailment of the importation of beef from third countries will this mean?
That has not been spelled out so far. It was only on 8th July that the announcement was made.
Surely some investigation was carried out in order to ascertain what it would mean in the next five or six months?
Are not such questions to be determined by the Commission and the Ministers when they meet from time to time? Surely the Deputy knows that?
I am sure they have the information in front of them and——
I gave the information I have in front of me, that the Commission did make an announcement on 8th July that steps would be taken in the immediate future and this is only 12th July.
No, 11th July. The Parliamentary Secretary does not even know the date.
Deputy Crinion can set down a question and raise what he wishes to raise on the Adjournment.
The remaining questions will appear on Tuesday's Order Paper. The House will now resume the debate on Item No. 12.
Would you entertain a suggestion that the House agree that we might finish the questions to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries today?
The Order of Business was agreed this morning and the order was that questions be taken from 2.30 to 3.30 p.m.
There is a precedent that where the House agrees, the particular Minister's questions in progress can be completed.
The Chair will conform to the adoption of the procedure this morning, that questions be taken from 2.30 to 3.30, unless the House decides otherwise.
Agreed.
What I understood you, Sir, to ask was whether there was agreement to adhere to the Order made at 10.30 this morning?
We heard the Chair and it has been decided.
There can be no agreement to extend questions.
I must conform to the order made.
The Parliamentary Secretary is in the chicken business now.
What question did you put to the House?
The matter has been disposed of. I said I would conform to the Order of Business as decided this morning, unless the House decided otherwise. Subsequently the Parliamentary Secretary said there would be no agreement.
I wish to raise the subject matter of Questions Nos. 39 and 40 on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
In relation to the question put to the House and agreed on by the House——
Is Deputy Moore resuming?
You put a question to the House which the House agreed.
I put no question.
You did put a question. It was put to the House and agreed to by the House.
Deputy Dowling will resume his seat and allow the business of the House to continue.
The question was put and agreed by the House.
There was no such agreement.
There was. You put the question.
Why did the Parliamentary Secretary rise to answer the next question then?