asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will specify the progress made to date in respect of the preparation of plans on the submission concerning the implementation of the directive on mountainous and other less favoured agricultural areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Agricultural Directive.
14.
The preparation of the list of areas in this country which might come within the scope of the directive is now well advanced and I hope to be in a position to submit the list to the Commission in the near future.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say what precise plans we have under the headings in the question and how far this country will implement the very attractive proposals under the Hill Farming Directive?
We are very far advanced in the preparation of our plans. They must be submitted as a comprehensive package. It is not proposed to submit them piecemeal. The United Kingdom is the only country as yet to have submitted a list of areas and their submission is only a provisional one. One country has supplied this list of areas and that is provisional.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say if the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Minister have decided on what areas will be submitted for this country.
Not finally.
When will it be known what areas will be on this list that will be submitted?
The criteria to be taken into account will be wide-ranging. The Department regard this as an exceptionally important matter. Many senior members of the staff of the Department are devoting attention to this question so we hope to have a comprehensive scheme for submission in the not-too-distant future. In any case, I assume it will not be dealt with until all countries have submitted their schemes. As I said, only one country have submitted a provisional scheme as yet so there is no time lost.
When is it likely that we will know what areas of this country will be on the list which will be submitted?
This is enlarging on the subject matter of the question.
It is not.
The Deputy seems to think that Fianna Fáil are still in charge of the Department.
I want to know if the Parliamentary Secretary will answer my Supplementary Question?
I have given all the information available. It is the Minister's function to determine this. I can assure the Deputy he will make all the information available as soon as possible.
How long will that be?
In the not-too-distant future.
He is not very involved with the plight of farmers at the moment.
(Interruptions.)